Happy Medium

California Reaches Deal to Send National Guard to Border

Previous reluctance provoked Trump’s anger.

California Gov. Jerry Brown has reached an agreement to send National Guard troops to help police the Mexican border after finding himself the repeated target of Donald Trump’s anger for his reluctance to get involved in immigration-related work. Around 400 of the state’s National Guard troops will be deployed to focus on fighting transnational gangs as well as drug and gun smugglers, Brown confirmed, but the Guard won’t handle custody duties for people accused of immigration violations, build border barriers, or have anything to do with immigration enforcement. The deal comes after a Defense Department official said last week that California authorities declined to commit troops to Trump’s effort to send 4,000 National Guard troops to help the Department of Homeland Security secure the border with Mexico. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen wrote on Twitter late Wednesday: “Final details are being worked out but we are looking forward to the support. Thank you Gov Brown!”