California reaches deal on National Guard border mission
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California has reached an agreement with the federal government that the state’s National Guard troops will deploy to the border to focus on fighting transnational gangs as well as drug and gun smugglers, Gov. Jerry Brown said.
The announcement Wednesday came after a week of uncertainty in which President Donald Trump bashed the governor’s insistence that troops avoid immigration-related work.
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen wrote on Twitter that final details were still being worked out “but we are looking forward to the support.”
Brown said he secured federal funding for terms similar to those outlined in last week’s proposed contract: The Guard cannot handle custody duties for anyone accused of immigration violations, build border barriers or have anything to do with immigration enforcement.