On Monday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a General Order rescinding previous authorization for California National Guard operations at the U.S. – Mexico border that allowed California National Guard personnel to perform duties traditionally undertaken by the federal government. At the time of the Order, approximately 360 members of the California National Guard were deployed at the border at the request of the White House to provide support for the federal government in border operations.
Last week, President Trump announced he will be deploying 3,750 U.S. military personnel to the U.S. – Mexico border. Governor Newsom’s General Order cites this development as the primary reason for California to reprioritize its National Guard deployment.
Governor Newsom’s General Order redeploys personnel to focus on other threats facing the state by:
- Authorizing 110 personnel to prepare for the upcoming fire season by supporting CAL FIRE in fire prevention and fire suppression efforts;
- Authorizing the expansion of the California National Guard’s statewide Counterdrug Task Force by at least 150 personnel; and,
- Authorizing 100 personnel to conduct counter narcotics search and seizure operations targeting transnational criminal organization around ports of entry.
Of concern to RCRC is the deployment of National Guard personnel to address illegal cannabis production and other illicit narcotics. The Governor’s office indicates that much of the National Guard’s efforts in this aspect of the draw down will occur on the state’s public lands.
According to the Governor’s office, the National Guard will begin making preparations to carry out the order immediately and have the draw down in effect by March 31, 2019.