SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - The Latest on New Mexico’s Democratic governor-elect (all times local):
2:50 p.m.
The Democratic governor-elect of New Mexico says she is worried about the wellbeing of women and children in migrant caravans approaching the U.S. from Mexico and may reconsider the state’s decision to deploy local National Guard troops to the border.
U.S. Congresswomen and Gov.-elect Michelle Lujan Grisham said Friday that she doubts the credibility of information supplied by President Donald Trump and the Department of Homeland Security about the caravans of Central American migrants. The Trump administration is warning that the caravans will further overwhelm asylum systems.
Republican New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez in April deployed fewer than 200 troops to the border at Trump’s suggestion. That was before concerns about the caravan prompted a new federal deployment of more than 5,000 troops.
Lujan Grisham and Martinez met Friday to discuss the transition of power from one Latina governor to another.
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1 a.m.
An unusual political transition between two Latina governors is under way in New Mexico.
The state has a long history of Hispanics in politics and women are now consistently rising to the top. Democratic Gov.-elect Michelle Lujan Grisham was scheduled to meet on Friday with termed-out Republican Gov. Susana Martinez.
Martinez won office in 2010 as the nation’s only Latina governor and took issue with Donald Trump’s characterization of Mexican immigrants as criminals and rapists when he was running for president. She and the president have since reconciled.
Lujan Grisham is a staunch critic of Trump’s approach to immigration and has promised to pursue major changes from Martinez’s approach to student testing, teacher evaluations, state investments, renewable energy, gun control, marijuana regulation and more.
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