Washington, DC — According to a report published by the Associated Press this morning, the Department of Homeland Security considered the use of up to 100,000 National Guard troops to round up undocumented immigrants. This follows a week of indiscriminate roundups of innocent immigrants, including a domestic abuse victim most likely reported to officials by her abuser.

In addition, the draft memo includes instructions in alignment with the President’s Executive Order including expansive use of local law enforcement, extreme and over-expansive use of immigration detention, blanket use of procedures that limit or preclude due process and policies that may endanger the lives of women and children seeking protection at our borders.

The Women’s Refugee Commission vehemently condemns the use of swaths of National Guard troops to target immigrants who are already vulnerable and other policies that will greatly limit access to protection: endangering lives and betraying our national values. Behavior of this nature all but guarantees that innocent men, women and children will face terror and criminalization in the United States.

According to Michelle Brané, Director of the Migrants Rights and Justice Program at WRC:

“The mere consideration of this type of militarized immigration enforcement is reprehensible, and would greatly increase the extreme adversity faced by those who have sought refuge in the United States. The Women’s Refugee Commission demands that General John Kelly stand up against any action of this nature, and that the Trump Administration heed to the values of our nation.”

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On January 25, 2017, President Trump signed two executive orders relating to immigration. The backgrounder linked below discusses the potential impact of the Executive Order on “Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements” on women and children seeking protection in the United States. 

10 Things to Know about How Trump’s Executive Order will Harm Women & Children Seeking Protection

For more information contact: Michelle Brané, MichelleB@wrcommission.orgTessa Wiseman, tessa@newpartners.com