After Vowing to Stop Trump’s Deportations, Dem Governor Now Says She Supports Apprehending Criminals

Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool, File

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey (D), who vowed to use her "executive powers" to stop any deportation efforts conducted by President Trump in the immediate aftermath of the presidential election, now says she supports the apprehension of such criminals.

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Healey spoke to reporters about sightings of federal immigration enforcement agents making apprehensions in Chelsea and East Boston.

The blue state governor downplayed any assertion that these operations amounted to "raids."

"I wouldn't describe them as raids," Healey said. "What it seems to be is what we expected and what I support, which is the apprehension of criminals in our communities."

The statement comes as a video was captured of an enraged illegal Haitian migrant with an extensive criminal record angrily protesting his arrest in Boston, saying, "F*** Trump! You feel me? Yo, Biden forever, bro! Thank Obama for everything he did for me, bro!" 

While it's almost inevitable that Healey will change her tune and start virtue-signaling again for those illegals with lesser criminal records, this is quite a remarkable turnaround from just over two months ago. 

Healey went on MSNBC within 48 hours of Trump's election victory and drew a very red line in the sand, vowing to invoke "executive powers" to protect the state's "citizens" and "residents."

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MA Gov Maura Healey Vows to Use ‘Executive Power’ to Resist Trump Deportation Orders, Protect ‘Residents’


"If the Trump administration requests it, would the Massachusetts State Police assist in mass deportations?" MSNBC host Lawrence O'Donnell asked her.

"No. Absolutely not," Healey replied.

She then laid out her vision to help protect illegals in her state.

"There's a lot of other ways that people are going to act and need to act for the sake of their states and their residents," she said. "There's regulatory authority and executive powers and the like."

"I think that the key here is that, ya know, every tool in the toolbox has gotta be used to protect our citizens, to protect our residents. And protect our states."

Times, they are a-changin'.

Healey seemed genuinely surprised to find out illegal alien shelters in Massachusetts had been cited for multiple incidents of serious crimes like child rape, drugs, physical assaults, and other crimes. She took action back in December after learning one Dominican illegal had been caught with an AR-15 and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of illicit drugs.

She ordered sweeps of the taxpayer-funded shelters after declaring it "outrageous" that someone willing to break the law to get into the country would continue breaking the law.

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Has she simply been asleep at the wheel as governor, or has this been willful ignorance that can no longer be masked as the adults in the Trump administration step in?


Illegal Immigrant Shelter Fraught With Crime in State Where Gov. Vows to Resist Trump Mass Deportations


This brings us back to the aforementioned prediction that Governor Healey will change her tune when it involves somebody who might not have a lengthy rap sheet ... yet. Take a look at this remarkable statement she made to reporters.

"I still remain opposed on efforts to target large swaths of an undocumented population who've done nothing wrong other than they're here without lawful presence," Healey said.

To paraphrase - Some illegals have "done nothing wrong" ... ya know, other than having broken the law

That's "something wrong," Maura.

Despite Healey's proclamation that her state would not allow police to assist in immigration enforcement efforts, the Trump administration has already formulated a response.

As RedState reported, a memo written by acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove has instructed prosecutors with the Justice Department to identify and investigate any state or local officials who “threaten to impede” deportation efforts.

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“Federal law prohibits state and local actors from resisting, obstructing and otherwise failing to comply with lawful immigration-related commands and requests,” the memo states. 

“The U.S. Attorney’s Offices and litigating components of the Department of Justice shall investigate incidents involving any such misconduct for potential prosecution.”

Nothing like the threat of prosecution for aiding and abetting criminals to convince Healey to stand down.

Healey seems okay with criminals being prosecuted regardless of immigration status. But she also seems incapable of recognizing that 100 percent of those in the country illegally are criminals.

It'll be interesting to see if she clashes with the White House on this matter down the line.

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