Politics

California Governor Announces Mobilization of 400 National Guard Troops, Per Trump’s Order

Christian Datoc Senior White House Correspondent
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California Governor Jerry Brown changed course Wednesday night and announced the mobilization of 400 National Guard troops to the border in compliance with orders from the White House.

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Brown’s announcement comes after he apparently distanced himself from an April 11 authorization of 400 troops to be mobilized. The administration announced Monday that it would not provide troops over concerns they would provide too much direct support to immigration enforcement officials. (RELATED: California Governor Rejects Federal Plan For National Guard Duties At Border)

President Trump harshly criticized Brown the next day.

“Looks like Jerry Brown and California are not looking for safety and security along their very porous Border,” POTUS tweeted Tuesday morning. “He cannot come to terms for the National Guard to patrol and protect the Border. The high crime rate will only get higher. Much wanted Wall in San Diego already started!”

Before Brown’s change of heart, California was the only southwest border state not to comply with Trump’s order.

As of Monday, 900 National Guard troops had been deployed to the border: 250 from Arizona, 60 from New Mexico and 650 from Texas.

UPDATE (8:50 pm ET)Governor Brown’s office reached out to The Daily Caller to deny having “reversed” the original April 11 order, as was reported in an earlier version of this piece.

“The governor has not ‘reversed’ any decision, there has been no ‘flip’ or ‘change of heart’ and there was no ‘announcement’ Monday that [a previous authorization] would no longer be the case,” a spokesman said in a statement.

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