California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced Thursday that he will take his first international trip as governor to El Salvador to learn about the driving factors behind immigration to the U.S.

Newsom announced the plan during a meeting with community leaders and state lawmakers, according to the Sacramento Bee. His office told the newspaper that the state is home to around 680,000 migrants from the country.

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“While the Trump Administration demonizes those who are fleeing violence from Central America, California is committed to lifting up our immigrant communities and understanding the root causes of migration,” Newsom told the newspaper in a statement.

“I am looking forward to traveling to El Salvador in April to talk with the nation’s leaders and activists while deepening the bond between our families and communities," the governor added.

The country is a hotspot for the criminal MS-13 gang, which is one of the major drivers behind immigration from the region and the target of harsh rhetoric from the Trump administration on immigration issues in recent months.

President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE has referred to MS-13 members as "animals" and has pointed to the group as one of the top reasons for his plans to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border as well as his administration's crackdown on undocumented immigration.

Newsom moved last month to withdraw most of his state's National Guard troops from the border after the Trump administration deployed them last year to reinforce border fencing.