Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom exercised his authority to heighten the presence of the California National Guard at the U.S.-Mexico border in a bid to combat the crisis perpetuated by the devastating drug, fentanyl. The deployment increases the number of CalGuard service members at the border by approximately 50%, boosting the force to 60 soldiers stationed at the four U.S. ports of entry along the border with Mexico, according to a press release from the governor's office.
This move is a part of Governor Newsom's crackdown on illegal drugs, including fentanyl smugglers, by investing over $1 billion since 2019 to battle opioid trafficking, enforce laws, combat overdoses, and support those afflicted with opioid use disorders, among other critical components in addressing the opioid crisis. Fentanyl's destructive force cannot be understated—it is a potent and lethal synthetic opioid that has torn apart families and communities across California and the rest of the nation.
As a component of Newsom's Master Plan for Tackling the Fentanyl and Opioid Crisis, the California National Guard has been providing support to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in counter-narcotic investigations and interdiction operations. So far this year, the CalGuard has assisted in the seizure of over 11,760 pounds of fentanyl, as reported on gov.ca.gov.
The Department of Homeland Security clarifies that a majority of fentanyl is smuggled into the U.S. through ports of entry by U.S. citizens, not by migrants seeking asylum. In light of this fact, the focus has turned towards bolstering security at the border to mitigate the flow of this deadly substance into the United States.
Newsom's administration acknowledges the urgency of the situation, with the opioid crisis claiming the lives of over 150 Americans daily due to overdoses and poisonings related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. The new deployment initiative will enhance the efforts in monitoring and interdicting fentanyl smuggling, as well as provide additional support for the operation of a vehicle X-ray system to detect the transportation and concealment of narcotics.
Within the scope of his administration's larger strategy to counter the fentanyl crisis, Governor Newsom has dedicated a $30 million investment to fund CalGuard's statewide drug interdiction efforts and support the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) programs. The HIDTA program works to enhance information sharing, operational coordination, and intelligence between local, state, tribal, and federal agencies to bolster efforts in interdicting illicit drugs and dismantling drug trafficking organizations.
