DONALD TRUMP’s request to have more than 5,000 active duty military personnel deployed to the US-Mexico border to intercept the “migrant caravan” has been denied by the Pentagon.
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| Donald Trump's request for troops no the border was denied |
Trump has continually mentioned these troops at his various rallies across the US while he was campaigning for Republicans running for Congress.
Originally, Trump said that he was going to send 5,000 troops to the border, but the number soon rose to 10,000 and 15,000.
However, the Trump administration was required to submit a request for these troops through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
DHS claimed that they would act as “emergency law enforcement” and would serve as “crowd and traffic control”.
The Pentagon was quick to deny their request, saying it was a matter that should be handled by the state or local law enforcement.
While the Department of Defence (DoD) denied the request, they did say that they would provide air surveillance and logistical support for Customs and Border Protection (CMP) agents as well as medical support and engineers.
The DHS’s request that the troops be equipped with live-fire weapons was also rejected.
The Pentagon said that active-duty soldiers were not allowed to take part in missions of that nature without the President giving them further stipulations.
A DHS official told ABC News affiliate kitv.com: "While DHS has discussed the need for potential assistance with force protection of CBP personnel, calling this line of support 'law enforcement activities' would be factually inaccurate.”
According to US law, US troops are not allowed to participate in domestic law enforcement unless it is a time of emergency.
Triumphs consistently called the caravan coming towards the US a major threat.
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| Trump has called the caravan an invasion |
In a speech at the White House last Thursday, Trump hinted at the possibility that soldiers at the border would shoot people who threw rocks at them.
He argued that rocks were similar to guns and that the group of 3,000 for migrants are an “invasion”.
The mission that sends troops to the border, also known as Operation Faithful Patriot, has come under extreme criticism from current and former military officials.
Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff retired General Martin Dempsey called the operation a "wasteful deployment of over-stretched soldiers and Marines that would be made much worse if they use force disproportional to the threat they face.”
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| Troops will not be allowed live-fire weapons |
Trump appeared to have walked back his comment about shooting anyone who throws a rock at the troops.
He said: "If our soldiers are going to be hit in the face with rocks, we're going to arrest those people.
“That doesn't mean shoot them.”
He added that any arrests made will happen "quickly and for a long time”.