Correspondent Reports Lack of National Guard Presence
Fox News correspondent Matt Finn reported from the field, stating, “We’re at the CA border right now in Jacumba, Governor Newsom. We see migrants illegally crossing all hours of the day. Haven’t seen a single CA National Guard over the past week.”
Source: Wikimedia Commons
This observation questions the accuracy of Newsom’s claims about the National Guard’s presence.
Newsom's Address on Social Media
In a video posted to social media, Governor Newsom detailed his visit to the San Ysidro Port of Entry, saying, “We have 390 National Guardsmen and women that have been working, particularly as it relates to fentanyl, here in the state of California.”
Source: CAgovernor/X
He emphasized the ongoing efforts and the need for additional resources.
The Governor's Statement on Resources
Governor Newsom argued that more resources are necessary to support border efforts and criticized political opposition.
Source: CAgovernor/X
He said, “Everybody needs more resources, and the Republican Party has been consistently standing in the way of providing the resources to support the men and women working hard, not only here at the border, but throughout the state of California and this country.”
Journalistic Skepticism Over Newsom’s Claims
Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin expressed skepticism regarding Newsom’s assertion.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Reporting from Jacumba, he noted, “I have not seen a single California National Guard soldier in Jacumba,” contradicting the governor’s statements about increased troop numbers.
Governor’s Office Bold Claim on Troop Numbers
In his video, Governor Newsom claimed that California had doubled the number of National Guard troops at the border.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
This specific statement has been met with criticism and scrutiny, particularly from journalists observing the situation firsthand at the border.
Reports of Overwhelmed Border Patrol
Bill Melugin reported significant challenges faced by the Border Patrol, with migrants wandering on highways and managing their own transportation via services like Lyft while waiting to be picked up.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
This situation highlights the strain on resources and the complexity of border management.
Border Patrol’s Reaction to Newsom’s Post
Reacting to Governor Newsom’s posts, a Border Patrol agent in Jacumba responded with laughter.
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They commented, “CA isn’t doing s— to help them with illegal crossings there, and any soldiers that they see there are National Guard from other states working w/ DHS under federal Title 10 order.”
Clarification on National Guard Deployment
Further clarifying the situation, Melugin added, “He said CA soldiers are helping with drug interdiction at ports of entry – not the mass crossing hot spots in Jacumba. If the Governor’s office has any images of CA National Guard helping Border Patrol in Jacumba, I’m happy to update.”
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Is Newsom’s strategy misplaced concerning the urgent issues?
Critique of Newsom’s Approach
Tomi Lahren, a host on OutKick, criticized Governor Newsom’s actions as a “vanity shot” at the border, calling them a “bold-faced lie” to his constituents and the American people.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
This suggests that his portrayal of the situation might not align with the reality on the ground.
The Scope of National Guard Activities
The Governor’s office insists that the National Guard is active and contributing significantly at the border, especially concerning drug interdiction.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
This statement aims to affirm the governor’s earlier claims about the roles and effectiveness of the deployed National Guard troops.
Newsom’s Office Stands By His Words
In response to the ongoing controversy and the conflicting reports from journalists, a spokesperson for Newsom’s office told Fox News Digital, “The Governor’s words speak for themselves.”
Source: Wikimedia Commons
This reaffirms the governor’s stance and his administration’s commitment to the statements he has made regarding border security and National Guard deployment.