AG Andrea Campbell says Massachusetts is prepared if the Nationwide Guard is deployed to the Bay State, including that her workplace is “drafting paperwork” that she hopes it by no means has to file towards President Donald Trump.
The lawyer common’s feedback mark the firmest stance but from a Bay State official on what sort of coordination or preparations are being made within the case Trump tries to deploy troops in Massachusetts.
Trump has deployed Nationwide Guard models to cities he argues are coping with excessive crime or are epicenters of federal immigration exercise, whilst governors and mayors have largely voiced opposition to their arrival.
“We are prepared if they were to come,” Campbell mentioned on GBH’s Boston Public Radio on Tuesday. “After all, I hope they don’t, as a result of the narrative they’re suggesting is that they might come right here to advertise public security, and we’re doing simply tremendous.
“If anything,” the AG continued, “we’re seeing in other communities across the country is that they’re eroding public safety and trust between law enforcement and the community. In addition to that, they’re perpetuating fear.”
Campbell mentioned her workplace is participating with the Nationwide Guard, Gov. Maura Healey’s workplace, the state Legislature, legislation enforcement, and “every stakeholder” out there over how the state would reply to a possible deployment.
The AG added that she’s personally spoken together with her counterparts in California, Illinois and Oregon, states the place Trump has threatened to deploy the Nationwide Guard to fight what he describes as lawlessness.
Trump continues to face authorized challenges in areas the place he has appeared to deploy troops.
Courts in Tennessee and West Virginia heard arguments Monday difficult the deployment of their states’ Nationwide Guard troops to patrol the streets of Memphis and Washington, D.C.
Since their arrival on Oct. 10, Nationwide Guard troops have been patrolling neighborhoods and business areas of Memphis, carrying fatigues and protecting vests that say “military police.” Officers have mentioned Guard members, who’re armed, haven’t any arrest energy.
West Virginia is amongst a number of states that despatched troops to Washington, D.C., to help Trump’s crime-fighting efforts. Final month, a West Virginia choose requested attorneys for the state to handle whether or not Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s deployment of as much as 300 Guard members to the nation’s capital in August was authorized.
The Bay State AG’s Workplace has filed 41 complaints towards the Trump administration for the reason that president regained workplace in January. Campbell made clear that one other could also be coming if Trump tries to deploy troops right here.
“Any time you file a lawsuit, it takes a lot of human capital resources and work,” the AG mentioned. “And frankly, you have to be prepared beforehand, so we hope we never have to file anything.”
Healey mentioned final month that sending the Nationwide Guard to main U.S. cities is a “waste of resources,” however the first-term Democrat declined to say if she was coordinating with any native officers or getting ready any motion in case Trump tried to conduct a deployment in Massachusetts.
Bay State Congressman Jim McGovern informed the Herald final month that he had spoken to the Healey administration a couple of doable Nationwide Guard deployment.
Campbell mentioned troops are designed to deal with a “major flood, a major emergency” within the state. She added that she doesn’t understand how geared up the Nationwide Guard is to perform what Trump needs it to.
“They’re not necessarily trained to show up in the city of Boston,” she mentioned, “or the municipalities here in Massachusetts, to promote public safety, to investigate crimes, to respond appropriately.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
