By: Ashmar Mandou

President Donald Trump’s plan to deploy National Guard troops to the Mexico border has drawn resistance from some governors, most of them Democrats, and the law he invoked creates an opening for them to turn him down, officials said Friday. Trump’s order summoned a federal law called Title 32, under which governors retain command and control of Guard members from their state, with the federal government paying for the deployment. This week, Governor Bruce Rauner says if asked by President Trump, he would send Illinois National Guard soldiers to the U.S.-Mexico border.

“Frankly, the president is the commander-in-chief of our military,” he said while fielding questions at an event in Springfield Tuesday. “Illinois has not been requested to send troops. If we are requested, I believe we’ll honor that request.” So far, only Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico have agreed to send guardsmen, after President Trump called for a military response to what he calls “lawlessness” at the border. The Trump administration has agreed to pay for the deployment of up to 4,000 National Guard soldiers for the border security mission. No end date for the deployment has been announced. Former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama both deployed National Guard soldiers to the southern border during their tenure.

Assistant Majority Leader Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) issued the following response today to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s statement that he would comply if President Donald Trump orders the Illinois National Guard to the Mexican border: “Sending the military to the border is yet another example of the president’s racist attitude towards immigrants. He intends to treat them like dangerous criminals rather than hardworking people looking for a better life. And Governor Rauner’s willingness to send troops from Illinois demonstrates his inability to stand up for what’s right and would only serve to further the president’s dangerous agenda against immigrants.”

Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) released a response to Governor Rauner’s decision, if requested by President Trump, to send Illinois National Guard soldiers to the U.S.-Mexico border. “The members of the Illinois National Guard are a well-trained group ready to take on numerous responsibilities,” said Castro. “Providing political cover for the president’s growing personal scandals should not be one of them. It is irresponsible of Governor Rauner to use our National Guard to help further the president’s agenda.”