Trump Today: Report that Guard could be used to round up immigrants is ‘false’

FILE - This is a Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017 file photo of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly as he listens at right as President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting on cyber security in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. Top world leaders, diplomats and defense officials are getting their first opportunity to meet in person with members of President Donald Trump’s new administration, amid a laundry list of concerns including the American commitment to the NATO alliance and Washington’s posture toward Russia. Vice President Mike Pence, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly are leading the U.S. delegation to the annual Munich Security Conference. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) less FILE - This is a Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017 file photo of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly as he listens at right as President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting on cyber security in the Roosevelt Room of ... more Photo: Evan Vucci, Associated Press Photo: Evan Vucci, Associated Press Image 1 of / 13 Caption Close Trump Today: Report that Guard could be used to round up immigrants is ‘false’ 1 / 13 Back to Gallery

The White House on Friday labeled as “false” a memo reportedly drafted by Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly that indicated the Trump administration was considering using up to 100,000 National Guard troops to round up undocumented immigrants.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer issued a statement saying the report was “100 percent not true.”

“It is false,” Spicer told reporters on Air Force One. “It is irresponsible to be saying this.”

He added that the memo, obtained by the Associated Press, “is not a White House document.”

However, a unidentified Homeland Security official told Cox Media Group that the memo was a “very early, pre-decisional draft.” The official added that the suggestion was “never seriously considered by the department.”

The AP reported that the White House had not responded to requests for comment on the draft memo before the story was posted.

The 11-page draft mentions 11 states, including California, Oregon and Nevada, where National Guard troops could be mobilized to search for and seize undocumented immigrants, the AP said. But, according to the wire service, the governors of those states would have final say on whether to use the troops.

California Gov. Jerry Brown would not be likely to approve such a move. In his State of the State Speech in January, Brown said, “Let me be clear, we will defend everybody — every man, woman and child who has come here for a better life and has contributed to the well-being of our state.”

California’s freshman Democratic senator, Kamala Harris, weighed in after the Associated Press story was posted, tweeting, “Let us not mince words about what this would be: a deportation force designed to break up families and deport millions of people.”

What we don’t know:

• Which states would welcome a National Guard roundup. In addition to California, Oregon and Nevada, the states listed in the reported draft include Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

• The legality of using the National Guard to round up undocumented immigrants.

The Chronicle has published numerous stories on Trump’s plans for stemming the flow of illegal immigration in the United States, including building a wall along the Mexican border. Here are some links:

• Trump could scapegoat H-1B visas for immigration goals

• Tech leaders, workers condemn Trump’s immigration ban

• SF officials say they will not follow Trump’s immigration orders

Bill Hutchinson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: bhutchinson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @bill_hutchinson