April 20, 2018

President Trump recently signed a proclamation to dispatch National Guard Troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, with the goal of sending 2,000 to 4,000 troops until his proposed border wall progresses, stating that the U.S. “cannot let people enter the country, we have no idea who they are, what they can do, where they came from.”  Defense Secretary James Mattis approved funding for up to 4,000 National Guard personnel from the Pentagon budget until the end of September, 2018.

Texas and Arizona Governors have responded this call, deploying 250 and 225 National Guard members respectively. New Mexico’s Governor stated she would deploy more than 80 troops later this month. Apprehensions are still well below trends during the terms of former Presidents Bush and Obama.

The Chamber sent a letter to Governor Brown urging he reject the request to deploy National Guard Troops to the U.S.-Mexico Border. Border authorities report a 26 percent decrease in the number of people detained along the Mexico border in 2017 compared with the previous year, and with an annual investment of $18 billion, the federal government already spends more than all other federal criminal law enforcement agencies combined when northbound immigration is at a historic low.

Governor Brown’s response to the federal government’s request did accept federal funding to add approximately 400 Guard members, though it set limits on what the troops actions would focus on. To see Governor Brown’s response to the federal government’s request for additional California National Guard personnel, please click here.