Governor Newsom Deploys National Guard to Combat San Francisco's Fentanyl Epidemic

Addressing the Fentanyl Crisis

California Governor Gavin Newsom has directed the state National Guard and California Highway Patrol to help combat San Francisco's fentanyl trafficking crisis. The move comes as the city experiences a surge in drug overdoses, with more than 130 deaths reported in January and February combined.

Newsom visited San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood on Wednesday to speak with city leaders about the crisis.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed welcomed the increased law enforcement presence, saying that local agencies could use more support. However, San Francisco Public Defender Manohar Raju expressed concern that the operation could unfairly target low-income and Black and Brown communities.