Now Charlie Baker Sees the ‘Crisis’ at the Border [OPINION]
Three years ago, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker refused when other governors were helping President Donald Trump to control the southern border. Now, Baker is demanding that Joe Biden take action.
Twenty-six Republican U.S. Governors, including Baker, have written to Biden seeking a meeting within the next two weeks to discuss the border crisis. In the letter, the governors describe the situation at the border as a "national security crisis." They ain't kidding! But why did it take so long for Charlie Baker to want to do something about it? Why did Baker decline to help Trump secure the border?
In June 2018, Baker refused to send National Guard troops to help secure the border as other governors were doing. Instead, he accused Trump of separating children from their families as they arrived at the border. Many children were coming to the border with "coyotes" and others who would sell them into the sex trade or leave them for dead.
The laws were the same laws enforced by the Bush and Obama Administrations that built and used "cages" to detain the children. Trump's administration dismantled the cages and changed the laws. Baker referred to the Trump border policy at the time as "cruel and inhumane."
NBC10 Boston reported at the time that Baker refused to allow the National Guard to assist with reducing the influx of illegals and bring the crisis under control. "We told the National Guard to hold steady and to not go down to the border – period," Baker said. "We won't be supporting that initiative unless they change the policy.
The Biden Administration's open border policy drives down wages for workers in New Bedford and Fall River, puts a burden on local education and public safety budgets, and makes worse an already difficult housing market. So why was Governor Baker hesitant to help President Trump to control illegal immigration at the border?
Why does Baker all of a sudden get it? Could it be that next year is an election year, or was it as simple as just not wanting to help Trump?
Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.