Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) has doubled the number of National Guard troops deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border to combat the influx of fentanyl into the state, while criticizing House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) for blocking legislation that would have provided more resources.
“Republicans have consistently blocked resources to help not only our border but our hard-working men and women,” Newsom said. X said in a video post. “They need to stop playing politics. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson needs to stop playing politics and do the right thing.”
In February, Democrats and Republicans negotiated a $20 billion bill to strengthen border security that would provide $6.8 billion for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, $7.6 billion for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and $4 billion for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
But House Republicans quickly signaled their opposition to the compromise even before it was officially released, arguing that it did not do enough to ensure border security, and former President Donald Trump’s opposition made the compromise impossible.
Newsroom reports that the California National Guard has increased its ranks from 155 to nearly 400 members as part of Operation Anti-Drug Task Force to combat the flow of fentanyl and other drugs into the United States.
CalGuard assisted in the seizure of 5.8 million pills containing fentanyl in 2023. CalGuard-assisted operations resulted in: Record amount of fentanyl seized in 2023: 62,224 poundsThat’s an increase of 1,066 percent from 2021. According to the governor’s office.
Synthetic opioids like fentanyl are almost 70 percent More than 100,000 people die from overdoses each year in the United States.
The staffing increases will be funded through a $30 million capital plan aimed at expanding CalGuard operations, as well as federal funding.
Newsom said the increase will help fight the opioid crisis, but Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a frequent critic of Newsom, said the effort is too little, too late.
“It feels like we’re in an episode of ‘Punk’. He’s sending them there to facilitate their entry? It’s almost a joke,” Sheriff Chad Bianco said. He told Palm Springs-based KESQ-TV. “This has been going on for years. We’ve been asking for help for years.”
