California pulls most National Guard troops from U.S.-Mexico border

[webfact]

California pulls most National Guard troops from U.S.-Mexico border

 

FILE PHOTO: California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom speaks after being elected governor of the state during an election night party in Los Angeles, California, U.S. November 6, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) - California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday signed an order withdrawing more than two-thirds of the state's National Guard troops from the U.S.-Mexico border, calling claims of an illegal immigration crisis there nothing but "political theatre."

 

Newsom said most of the roughly 360 National Guard members deployed to the border would be reassigned to other duties in the state, with about 100 remaining behind as part of a task force targeting drug trafficking and cartels.

 

"This whole border issue is a manufactured crisis. We are not interested in participating in this political theatre," Newsom said at an afternoon news conference in Sacramento.

 

The governor, a Democrat who took office in January, said border crossings were at their lowest level since 1971 and that the state's undocumented population had dropped to a more than 10-year low.

 

"This is pure politics, period full stop," he said.

 

The move was a rebuke to President Donald Trump, who won election in 2016 partly on a populist pledge to build a wall on the southern U.S. border which he said in his campaign Mexico would pay for.

 

Trump's demand for $5.7 billion to help build that wall was central to a 35-day partial U.S. government shutdown that ended last month. He agreed to reopen the government for three weeks to allow lawmakers time to find a compromise and avert another shutdown on Feb. 15.

 

Newsom's predecessor, Governor Jerry Brown, agreed to send National Guard troops to the border last April after reaching agreement with the Trump administration that they would focus on fighting criminal gangs and smugglers and not enforce immigration laws.

 

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham last week ordered the withdrawal of most National Guard troops deployed at the border by her Republican predecessor at Trump's request last year.

 

Trump has deployed an extra 3,750 U.S. troops on the border this month.

 

Newsom said some of the National Guard troops would be re-deployed to help fight what he said were mushrooming illegal marijuana farms following approval of a 2016 ballot measure to legalize recreational cannabis - legislation the governor helped champion.

 

"We have to hold accountable those who are not participating in the legal cannabis market," he said. "These illegal grows are manifesting, getting bigger."

 

(Reporting by Sharon Bernstein in Sacramento, Peter Szekely in New York, Rich McKay in Atlanta and Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; Writing by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-02-12

[Baerboxer]

Well there you have it. There is no problem, and claims there are is just political theater.

 

And he wouldn't lie would he?

 

Just like there's no humanitarian crisis in Venezuela - everybody's happy, well fed and enjoying a wonderful free health service. Maduro said and he wouldn't lie would he?

 

See the connection on the political spectrum?

[stevenl]

15 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

Well there you have it. There is no problem, and claims there are is just political theater.

 

And he wouldn't lie would he?

 

Just like there's no humanitarian crisis in Venezuela - everybody's happy, well fed and enjoying a wonderful free health service. Maduro said and he wouldn't lie would he?

 

See the connection on the political spectrum?

Very bad, nonsensical comparison.

 

But I'm sure you can point out the issues at the California-Mexico border. Unless the governor is wrong, and " The governor, a Democrat who took office in January, said border crossings were at their lowest level since 1971 and that the state's undocumented population had dropped to a more than 10-year low. " this is not true?

[Bluespunk]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday signed an order withdrawing more than two-thirds of the state's National Guard troops from the U.S.-Mexico border, calling claims of an illegal immigration crisis there nothing but "political theatre."

And he is correct to do so.

[Monkeyrobot]

So there are no caravans of migrants coming  through Mexico.

[Tug]

Sorry Donald no crisis in California for you to sow division and hate no reason to uproot and keep the service people away from their family’s 

[Hanaguma]

Perhaps the Governor can remove the Guard due to the fact that there is a border wall in place along much of the California/Mexico border...

[alfalfa19]

6 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

Well there you have it. There is no problem, and claims there are is just political theater.

 

And he wouldn't lie would he?

 

Just like there's no humanitarian crisis in Venezuela - everybody's happy, well fed and enjoying a wonderful free health service. Maduro said and he wouldn't lie would he?

 

See the connection on the political spectrum?

umm, no, i do not.  is it safe to assume that you live in california, as i do, and have seen all this up close and personal, as i have, having worked right on the border from san ysidro to yuma for 5 years?  perhaps you have seen something that I missed?  

[alfalfa19]

31 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

Perhaps the Governor can remove the Guard due to the fact that there is a border wall in place along much of the California/Mexico border...

exactly.  as i pointed out in another post, i have worked for 5 years right on the border from the pacific ocean to yuma.   there is indeed a wall, in many places, a  double wall, both topped with razor wire.   in 5 years, i saw ONE instance of CBP having apprehended migrants, a small group of 4 or 5, out in the desert.   the immigrants and drugs come thru the legal border crossings,  and through tunnels.   

[alfalfa19]

46 minutes ago, Tug said:

Sorry Donald no crisis in California for you to sow division and hate no reason to uproot and keep the service people away from their family’s 

exactly

[alfalfa19]

Well done, Governor Newsom. 

[tifino]

 Hazard to guess just how many medals they'd get for 'that' tour of duty?  ????

[jamesy9368]

1 hour ago, Tug said:

Sorry Donald no crisis in California for you to sow division and hate no reason to uproot and keep the service people away from their family’s 

No much better to keep them in Afghanistan Syria and Iraq were they can be blown to bits and lose limbs in Bushes and Obamas wars. That's so much better.

[Prissana Pescud]

I live in Thailand now.

I am Australian. Where there is a separation between Federal Military and the state.

That is: the military has no status in Australia except in a Governor General declared threat to security of Australia.

Australian military have no rights to impose law or be any part of Australia except as a defence force.

And what a wonderful democratic solution that is. Go USA.

Where you need a military, FBI, CIA, NSA et al plus local police and any one with a gun to protect you, the citizens. You guys have lost the plot. 

[Prissana Pescud]

3 minutes ago, Prissana Pescud said:

I live in Thailand now.

I am Australian. Where there is a separation between Federal Military and the state.

That is: the military has no status in Australia except in a Governor General declared threat to security of Australia.

Australian military have no rights to impose law or be any part of Australia except as a defence force.

And what a wonderful democratic solution that is. Go USA.

Where you need a military, FBI, CIA, NSA et al plus local police and any one with a gun to protect you, the citizens. You guys have lost the plot. 

P.S. After service with Australia Army, I went to a mining job.

I was approached by a specialist surveillance unit to be a member of part time Army Reserve sneak and peak unit.

I was a member for 10 years. We trained men to defend against non Australian enemies.

Not to wage war against our own countrymen. The police must police Australians. Not the military. It makes Aus so much superior to US.

[emptypockets]

11 minutes ago, Prissana Pescud said:

P.S. After service with Australia Army, I went to a mining job.

I was approached by a specialist surveillance unit to be a member of part time Army Reserve sneak and peak unit.

I was a member for 10 years. We trained men to defend against non Australian enemies.

Not to wage war against our own countrymen. The police must police Australians. Not the military. It makes Aus so much superior to US.

How is this relevant to the thread topic?

By the way, the Prime Minister directs the military not the GG.

[Prissana Pescud]

1 hour ago, emptypockets said:

How is this relevant to the thread topic?

By the way, the Prime Minister directs the military not the GG.

You are wrong. The prime minister or delegated minister must ask the GG for any intervention by military in Australia including fire fighting etc.

This is a foregone conclusion in most cases. The cabinet approves overseas action, not the PM.

Check your facts before you post bs.

[Prissana Pescud]

2 minutes ago, Prissana Pescud said:

You are wrong. The prime minister or delegated minister must ask the GG for any intervention by military in Australia including fire fighting etc.

This is a foregone conclusion in most cases. The cabinet approves overseas action, not the PM.

Check your facts before you post bs.

Even then the GG must rubber stamp any action.

[Prissana Pescud]

1 hour ago, emptypockets said:

How is this relevant to the thread topic?

By the way, the Prime Minister directs the military not the GG.

If you cannot comprehend that National guard was used for border control. There goes democracy.

Border control should always be maintained by Immigration and custom officers.

There is no need of the military in a democratic country. 

Military should only be used in defence. Not used to oppress the locals.

I love the California mentality. Possibly the only democratic state in US

[Redline]

11 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

Well there you have it. There is no problem, and claims there are is just political theater.

 

And he wouldn't lie would he?

 

Just like there's no humanitarian crisis in Venezuela - everybody's happy, well fed and enjoying a wonderful free health service. Maduro said and he wouldn't lie would he?

 

See the connection on the political spectrum?

So we should believe Trump who is a pathological liar ???? ????