North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) announced Tuesday that he would recall three members of the National Guard deployed at the U.S.-Mexico border over the Trump administrations "zero tolerance" policy for illegal immigration.

Cooper tweeted that the policy, which has resulted in the separations of thousands of undocumented children from their families, was "cruel" and required a "strong response."

"The cruel policy of tearing children away from their parents requires a strong response, and I am recalling the three members of the North Carolina National Guard from the border," the governor tweeted.

The cruel policy of tearing children away from their parents requires a strong response, and I am recalling the three members of the North Carolina National Guard from the border. - RC — Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) June 19, 2018

Local media reports confirm that North Carolina's entire Guard deployment to the border consists of three troops and a helicopter, as the state was not one of the primary states asked to mobilize for Trump's effort to secure the border earlier this year.

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Cooper's announcement comes on the heels of similar statements from the governors of other states, including New York, Colorado, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Maryland, who all recalled or stated that their states' Guard resources would not be mobilized for the operation this week.

“Until this policy of separating children from their families has been rescinded, Maryland will not deploy any National Guard resources to the border,” Maryland's Republican Gov. Larry Hogan wrote on Twitter earlier Tuesday.

“Earlier this morning, I ordered our 4 crewmembers & helicopter to immediately return from where they were stationed in New Mexico.”

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The decisions from Cooper and other governors come amid bipartisan calls in Congress for the Trump administration to end the policy of separating families while Congress debates a permanent solution to the immigration crisis. Members of the Trump administration, including Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsGOP set to release controversial Biden report Trump's policies on refugees are as simple as ABCs Ocasio-Cortez, Velázquez call for convention to decide Puerto Rico status MORE, have stated that the policy is supposed to serve as a deterrent to discourage illegal immigration.

“We need to better enforce our immigration laws, but we can do so while keeping parents and children together. I believe my bill will help do that,” said Rep. Mark Meadows Mark Randall MeadowsThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November House moves toward spending vote after bipartisan talks House Democrats mull delay on spending bill vote MORE (R-N.C.), chair of the House Freedom Caucus, who introduced a bill to suspend the process Tuesday.

A number of other lawmakers in both parties have introduced — or are planning — bills to suspend the practice, including Sens. Dianne Feinstein Dianne Emiel FeinsteinFeinstein 'surprised and taken aback' by suggestion she's not up for Supreme Court fight Democrats shoot down talk of expanding Supreme Court Biden leads Trump by 12 points among Catholic voters: poll MORE (D-Calif.), Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzCruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish Trump argues full Supreme Court needed to settle potential election disputes Press: Notorious RBG vs Notorious GOP MORE (R-Texas) and John Cornyn John CornynThe Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting Liberal super PAC launches ads targeting vulnerable GOP senators over SCOTUS fight Senate GOP faces pivotal moment on pick for Supreme Court MORE (R-Texas.).

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen Kirstjen Michele NielsenMore than million in DHS contracts awarded to firm of acting secretary's wife: report DHS IG won't investigate after watchdog said Wolf, Cuccinelli appointments violated law Appeals court sides with Trump over drawdown of immigrant protections MORE forcefully defended the zero-tolerance policy during a Monday White House press briefing, calling on Congress to solve the issue.

“Congress and the courts created this system, and Congress alone can fix it," she said Monday.

Updated: 6:05 p.m.