Trump to deploy over 5,200 troops to Mexico border

[webfact]

Trump to deploy over 5,200 troops to Mexico border

By Phil Stewart and Yeganeh Torbati

 

U.S Custom and Border Protection agents take part in a drill to protect the crossing gates against people who want to cross the border illegally on the international bridge between Mexico and the U.S., in Ciudad Juarez, Me

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Monday it will send over 5,200 troops to help secure the border with Mexico, a far larger-than-expected deployment as President Donald Trump hardens his stance on immigration ahead of Nov. 6 mid-term elections.

 

The deployment will create an active-duty force comparable in size to the U.S. military contingent in Iraq, as Trump's administration draws attention to a caravan of migrants that is trekking through Mexico toward the United States.

 

General Terrence O'Shaughnessy, the head of U.S. Northern Command, said 800 U.S. troops were already en route to the Texas border and more were headed to the borders in California and Arizona.

 

"That is just the start of this operation. We will continue to adjust the number and inform you of those," O'Shaughnessy said.

 

O'Shaughnessy said some soldiers would be armed although it was unclear who, beyond U.S. military police, might need those weapons.

 

U.S. officials have stressed that the troops would not be involved in policing the border and instead carry out support roles like building tents and barricades, and flying U.S. customs personnel to locations along the border.

 

Trump campaigned against illegal immigration to win the 2016 U.S. presidential election and has seized on the caravan of Central American migrants at campaign rallies in the run-up to next week's vote, firing up support for his Republican Party.

 

If the Republicans lose control of the House of Representatives or the Senate, it could become much harder for Trump to pursue his policy agenda in his remaining two years in office.

 

According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in late September and early October, 75 percent of Republican voters said illegal immigration is a very big problem, compared with 19 percent of Democratic voters.

 

Although Trump's supporters in Congress praised the deployment of troops, the American Civil Liberties Union derided it as a political stunt.

 

"President Trump has chosen just before midterm elections to force the military into furthering his anti-immigrant agenda of fear and division," said Shaw Drake, policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union Border Rights Center in El Paso, Texas.

 

ARMED SOLDIERS

Trump said on Twitter on Monday that the military would be waiting for the procession -- suggesting a far more direct role in confronting the migrants than the Pentagon described.

 

"Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border," Trump tweeted.

 

"Please go back, you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process. This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!" he added.

 

Trump administration officials have been discussing other options to address the caravan and a surge in border crossings, including having Trump use his authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to declare certain migrants ineligible for asylum for national security reasons.

 

Officials said no decisions had been taken.

 

Kevin McAleenan, the U.S. commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, said a group of approximately 3,500 immigrants were travelling through southern Mexico with the intent of reaching the U.S. border. A second caravan of about 3,000 people were at the Guatemala-Mexico border, McAleenan said.

 

At the same time, over the last three weeks, border agents have encountered nearly 1,900 people per day either crossing the border illegally or presenting themselves at ports of entry, with over half of them being children alone or parents and children travelling together, McAleenan said.

 

"We are already facing a border security and humanitarian crisis at our southwest border," he said.

 

Some migrants have abandoned the journey, deterred by the hardships or the possibility instead of making a new life in Mexico. Others joined it in southern Mexico.

 

(Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Leslie Adler and Lisa Shumaker)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-10-30

[JAG]

Chap on the left of the line up in the OP photo obviously didn't get to the dressing up box until all the good stuff was gone!

 

As for cuddling your M16 like that, well if there is a real threat you should be in a proper fire position, otherwise carry the dammed thing properly, so you don't drop it if someone shouts "boo" behind you!

 

Unprofessional posing Walt's...

[Samui Bodoh]

10 minutes ago, JAG said:

Chap on the left of the line up in the OP photo obviously didn't get to the dressing up box until all the good stuff was gone!

 

As for cuddling your M16 like that, well if there is a real threat you should be in a proper fire position, otherwise carry the dammed thing properly, so you don't drop it if someone shouts "boo" behind you!

 

Unprofessional posing Walt's...

"...if there is a real threat..."

 

There isn't a real threat. 

 

The "threat" is un-armed poor people over a thousand miles away.

 

It is using the US military as if it is the Thai military.

 

I am certain Patton is spinning in his grave...

 

[petedk]

19 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...if there is a real threat..."

 

There isn't a real threat. 

 

The "threat" is un-armed poor people over a thousand miles away.

 

It is using the US military as if it is the Thai military.

 

I am certain Patton is spinning in his grave...

 

From what I heard the other day, the convoy consists of about 3500 people and is getting smaller daily.

5000 + troops sounds a bit excessive.

[Peterw42]

I cant recall the troops ever being sent to Ellis island to defend the boat loads of people arriving, seeking asylum, looking for a better life etc. 

No mention of troops in "The New Colossus" either.

 

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

[blazes]

Finally:  American troops being deployed for a legitimate purpose.  

Pity it took a defeat in Vietnam and chaos in Iraq and Afghanistan to bring an American president to his Merkel moment.

[Peterw42]

17 minutes ago, blazes said:

Finally:  American troops being deployed for a legitimate purpose.  

Pity it took a defeat in Vietnam and chaos in Iraq and Afghanistan to bring an American president to his Merkel moment.

What is the "legitimate purpose"? These people are not armed, nobody has stated an intention to enter the US by force. Thousands of people present at US borders every day, seeking immigration, seeking asylum etc. 

[helpisgood]

Hey, Mr. President, how about stop drumming up an undue fear of people so desperate that they are willing to walk that extremely long distance and with their little kids.  I can't imagine moms bringing their little kids along with dangerous-looking men.  And, as if a dangerous group with a modicum of professionalism and funding would opt for a plan of walking across Mexico that has gotten so much publicity already.  Evil geniuses!  

 

Aren't there new things called planes and other high-tech gadgets called automobiles, vans, etc. that can be used furtively?  Delegate that "caravan" problem to Border Patrol because you have more important things to do.  

 

How about instead, say, talking about and coming up with affordable health care for a multitude of Americans, many of whom voted for you.  Deciding what to do with a very sick family member while having a modest income and savings is far more important to your people than an "invasion" of a few thousand, and dwindling, in a "caravan" from impoverished countries.  That's people who can't even afford wheels or, apparently, even bus tickets.  If this was the USA's greatest problem, then the USA would be living in a virtual utopia.    

 

Priorities!

Edited October 30, 2018 by helpisgood
paragraph added

[bluesofa]

1 hour ago, car720 said:

Over there, over there, there's burritos to eat over there.

Ah, a standard diversionary tack-tick proved to work on the US military.

[MaxYakov]

Trump can't get the real thing built so he's building a human wall?

[DM07]

I will hazard a guess: these 5.200 troops (that happens, when you have the world's biggest war machine, but not "enough" wars to fight!) will be joined by a "militia" in camouflage and with bright red MAGA- hats, waving guns, they bought for "deer hunting" or to "fight of a tyrannical government" (how about starting with the current one?)...and some idiot will shoot an unarmed person, seeking refuge!

After that Trump will give one of his rambling nonsensical speeches about "good people" and the "lying fake media"! 

Mark my words! 

[bluesofa]

13 minutes ago, MaxYakov said:

Trump can't get the real thing built so he's building a human wall?

What will he feed them with? Ice cream - from the Great Walls of China?

[mike324]

Trump drumming up unfounded fear again and again.

[Becker]

44 minutes ago, DM07 said:

I will hazard a guess: these 5.200 troops (that happens, when you have the world's biggest war machine, but not "enough" wars to fight!) will be joined by a "militia" in camouflage and with bright red MAGA- hats, waving guns, they bought for "deer hunting" or to "fight of a tyrannical government" (how about starting with the current one?)...and some idiot will shoot an unarmed person, seeking refuge!

After that Trump will give one of his rambling nonsensical speeches about "good people" and the "lying fake media"! 

Mark my words! 

You're right. Someone will get killed and the man-child will read platitudes from a script written by adults. The very next day he will virtually explode off the reservation and continue pandering the the deplorables.

Edited October 30, 2018 by Becker

[Scott]

Bickering post and reply removed.   Please stay on topic and stop with personal commentary on other members.  

 

[farcanell]

5 hours ago, JAG said:

..... carry the dammed thing properly, so you don't drop it if someone shouts "boo" behind you!

I think you just described what the real threat is ????

[mikebike]

I would actually prefer regular army to handle the arriving caravan. They are trained to be way more empathetic to non combatant civilians than border patrol are.

[bristolboy]

Just now, mikebike said:

I would actually prefer regular army to handle the arriving caravan. They are trained to be way more empathetic to non combatant civilians than border patrol are.

Really? Evidence?

[farcanell]

3 hours ago, blazes said:

Finally:  American troops being deployed for a legitimate purpose.  

Pity it took a defeat in Vietnam and chaos in Iraq and Afghanistan to bring an American president to his Merkel moment.

 

????????????... Merkel has announced that its time for change in Germany and that she will not be running again..... is that what is meant by a “Merkal moment”

 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

U.S. officials have stressed that the troops would not be involved in policing the border and instead carry out support roles like building tents and barricades, 

Yep.... a legitimate purpose... someone’s gotta get the donuts and do the turndown service.

[Srikcir]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

carry out support roles like building tents and barricades, and flying U.S. customs personnel to locations along the border

Which could have been done by the Border Patrol if Trump hadn't cut their budget to fund the design options for his Great Border Wall.

As it is, the military too will have to now cut its own spending authorizations to pay for an unexpected additional deployment of troops within the US, not to mention the typical cost for a 3:1 manpower support required for deployed military troops. Depending on the duration of their deployment in the US, subsequent deployment to legitimate theater actions such as Afghanistan may be delayed.

[johnnybangkok]

This is so obviously a political ploy that even the most die hard of Trump supporters on this site are keeping away from commenting on this one.

The silence is deafening.

[mikebike]

1 hour ago, bristolboy said:

Really? Evidence?

<deleted>, take the thought, do some research, and form your own opinion rather than asking to be spoon-fed.

[EVENKEEL]

A strong show of force is exactly what's needed. There's a second smaller wave trying to force their way into Mexico, deaths and injuries occurred on both sides. An over the top show of force will keep things peaceful on our border.

[bristolboy]

13 minutes ago, mikebike said:

<deleted>, take the thought, do some research, and form your own opinion rather than asking to be spoon-fed.

When I make a claim, especially when it runs against what one would expect, I back it up with evidence. I don't make it incumbent upon others to do my work.

[mikebike]

Just now, bristolboy said:

When I make a claim, especially when it runs against what one would expect, I back it up with evidence. I don't make it incumbent upon others to do my work.

I gave an opinion from my readings. If you wish to debate it, fine. I am not doing your work for you.

[bristolboy]

Just now, mikebike said:

I gave an opinion from my readings. If you wish to debate it, fine. I am not doing your work for you.

I get it. It's my work to be your fact checker.

[Krataiboy]

3 hours ago, Scott said:

Bickering post and reply removed.   Please stay on topic and stop with personal commentary on other members.  

 

Thank you. There are too many personal attacks on this website. 

[bristolboy]

1 hour ago, EVENKEEL said:

A strong show of force is exactly what's needed. There's a second smaller wave trying to force their way into Mexico, deaths and injuries occurred on both sides. An over the top show of force will keep things peaceful on our border.

7 hours ago, blazes said:

Finally:  American troops being deployed for a legitimate purpose.  

Pity it took a defeat in Vietnam and chaos in Iraq and Afghanistan to bring an American president to his Merkel moment.

I've got some sad news for both of you. It looks like the troops being sent aren't going to have the opportunity to deploy anyi weapons:

DOD Statement on Support to DHS

---

After receiving a request for assistance from the secretary of homeland security, the secretary of defense has approved providing mission-enhancing capabilities to the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the southwest border. This assistance is in addition to the previously authorized support to CBP's Operation Guardian Support mission.
 
The department will provide Defense Support to Civil Authorities with planning assistance, engineering support (temporary barriers, barricades, and fencing), fixed and rotary wing aviation support to move CBP personnel, medical teams to triage, treat and prepare for commercial transport of patients, command and control facilities, temporary housing for CBP personnel, and personal protective equipment for CBP personnel. U.S. Northern Command will be in the lead for the duration of the operation and is in support of Custom and Border Protection.

https://dod.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/1674387/dod-statement-on-support-to-dhs/

[how241]

Good to see a president who has the balls to do the right thing and send in the army to protect the border. He can do this because he is Not a paid professional politician. Hopefully,  many in this group will see that this president is not playing games and stay in Mexico or return to their home.

[bristolboy]

2 minutes ago, how241 said:

Good to see a president who has the balls to do the right thing and send in the army to protect the border. He can do this because he is Not a paid professional politician. Hopefully,  many in this group will see that this president is not playing games and stay in Mexico or return to their home.

Not playing games? That caravan isn't due for weeks and weeks and he's going to tie up armed forces resources for this? It's nothing but a game he's playing.