Unlike the Republican governors of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas who agreed, Gov. Jerry Brown isn’t saying whether California National Guard troops will be sent to the Mexican border as President Trump is asking.
Trump’s request isn’t that unusual. Presidents George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Barack Obama also asked for troops to beef up border security.
Ev Meade, director of the Trans-Border Institute at the University of San Diego, said Trump is different in that the rhetoric he has used around the request suggests there’s an element of political theater involved. And he said that puts Brown in a tough spot.
“The real ask may be fairly reasonable but if it’s done for unreasonable purposes, or just different purposes, then he may feel very uncomfortable about acceding to that order," Meade said.
Not to mention the Trump administration is currently suing California over its immigration policies.