US sends 5,200 troops to Mexico border to stop immigrants
The Pentagon confirmed that troops were sent to the Southwest border to control the flow of migrants from Central American countries flowing north.
According to the announcement on October 29, the Pentagon launched Operation "Loyal Patriot" mobilizing 5,200 military personnel, including armed forces, to the border area with Mexico.
The US Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) confirmed that the operation is to support Customs and Border Protection (CBP) forces to tighten security at the southern gateways of the country. Military helicopters will support CBP agents in apprehending illegal border crossers, according toAP.
US President Donald Trump posted on Twitter the same day warning that he would be tough on the wave of migrants flooding up from the South.
"This is an invasion of our country. The military is waiting for you," he wrote. Being tough on immigrants is a message Mr. Trump often uses with just over a week to go until the midterm elections in this country.
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| General Terrence O'Shaughnessy, commander of USNORTHCOM. Photo:Getty. |
"We will secure the border," USNORTHCOM commander General Terrence O'Shaughnessy emphasized the same message at a press conference with CBP chief Kevin McAleenan.
The Air Force general said that 800 troops had been sent to South Texas. The number would reach a maximum of 5,200 by the end of the week. The Pentagon prioritized stabilizing the situation in Texas, followed by Arizona and California.
The goal now is to stop illegal border crossings, according to Kevin McAleenan. He acknowledged that CBP is overwhelmed by the surge in asylum seekers. The US government is working with Mexico to share responsibility for receiving and controlling the migrant caravan from Central America.
Under US law, the military is not allowed to participate in immigration enforcement activities. The units participating in this campaign are mainly police, engineers and some other support units.
The military is assigned to perform indirect tasks such as logistics support for border guards. The US Transportation Command also announced the deployment of a C-17 aircraft to transport military equipment to the southwest border area. Military barriers have begun to be erected at some border gates.
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| Thousands of migrants have been walking across Central America and Mexico in recent weeks to reach the southern US border. Photo:AP. |
News of large migrant caravans moving north from Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala has been making waves in the United States in recent days. The first caravan has shrunk from 7,000 to about 3,500 people. However, a new caravan has emerged and is attracting more people.
Security concerns are growing, especially as violent incidents have become more frequent. On October 29, a group of about 600 migrants from the second caravan clashed with Mexican police at a border bridge with Guatemala. On October 28, another group attacked Mexican police with rocks and sticks as they tried to cross a river.
The solution to this migration is controversial in the US. President Trump has warned of the possibility of foreign criminal gangs entering the US. Many others believe that the migrant groups are mainly poor people, fleeing rampant crime in their home countries and need help.
