April 19 (UPI) — California Gov. Jerry Brown has ordered 400 state National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to combat crime — not enforce immigration, he said.
Brown committed “to combat criminal gangs, human traffickers and illegal firearm and drug smugglers — within the state, along the coast and at the U.S.-Mexico border — after securing the federal government’s commitment this week to fund the mission,” his office said in a statement late Wednesday.
About 55 California National Guard troops are already at the border performing anti-drug enforcement, officials said.
Brown emphasized in his order that the order is not a response to President Donald Trump’s call to Southwest states to secure the border as part of his administration’s immigration crackdown.
“Service members shall not engage in any direct law enforcement role nor enforce immigration laws, arrest people for immigration law violations, guard people taken into custody for alleged immigration violations, or support immigration law enforcement activities,” Brown said. “California National Guard service members shall not participate in the construction of any new border barrier.”
The troops were sent after securing federal funding this week, the governor’s office noted. They are expected to deploy before the end of April and will remain there until at least Sept. 30.
Amid tensions with Trump, especially considering California’s stance as a “sanctuary city,” Brown defended his immigration stance earlier this week at a National Press Club meeting.
“Trying to stop drug smuggling, human trafficking and guns going to Mexico to the cartels, that sounds to me like fighting crime,” Brown said. “Trying to catch some desperate mothers and children or unaccompanied minors coming from Central America, that sounds like something else.”
Brown’s move to activate the troops came one day after he was criticized in a tweet from Trump.
“There is a Revolution going on in California. Soooo many Sanctuary areas want OUT of this ridiculous, crime infested & breeding concept,” Trump’s tweet said. “Jerry Brown is trying to back out of the National Guard at the Border, but the people of the State are not happy. Want Security & Safety NOW!”
Earlier this month, Trump ordered as many as 4,000 National Guard troops to the border to assist Border Patrol agents with guarding the border and halting a “surge of illegal activity.”
Texas, Arizona and New Mexico have already agreed to deploy about 2,000 troops to the border.
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