California Sending More National Guard Troops to Border to Stop Fentanyl Trafficking

California Gov. Gavin Newsom visits the U.S-Mexico border in San Ysidro, Calif., in August 2023. Courtesy of the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Sept. 7 that 20 National Guard members will be deployed to ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border to assist with fentanyl interdiction efforts.

“Fentanyl is a deadly poison ripping families and communities apart,” Mr. Newsom said in a press release announcing the move. “California is cracking down—and today we’re going further by deploying more CalGuard service members to combat this crisis and keep our communities safe.”