Trump prepares to deploy 10,000 troops to Mexican border – WP
Photo: The military will pilot planes to deport migrants in custody (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump is prepared to deploy 10,000 military personnel to assist border guards at the Mexican border. The order specifies blocking the entry of migrants on the grounds that they traveled through countries where infectious diseases are prevalent, The Washington Post reports.
According to Acting Secretary of Defense Robert Salesses, the US Department of Defense will send at least 1,500 additional ground troops to the southern border, which may be the first of several waves. These troops will reinforce approximately 2,500 military personnel already stationed there. Other service members will pilot military aircraft to assist the Department of Homeland Security deporting migrants already in detention.
American agents have been instructed to use emergency powers to close the border in critical situations. The only two Border Patrol officials authorized to sanction entry to the US for asylum seekers on humanitarian grounds are Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks and his deputy.
The Washington Post recalls that during the coronavirus pandemic, the Trump administration used public health emergency laws to shut down access to US borders. This time, officials did not name a specific disease but instead cited the argument that migrants could be carriers of any infectious disease.
In a separate directive, Trump declared a state of emergency at the southern border and instructed the Pentagon to support US Customs and Border Protection by sending troops, unmanned aerial vehicles, and other resources while simultaneously resuming the construction of the border wall.
These orders are expected to significantly increase the number of detainees held in custody by US Customs and Border Protection in the coming weeks.
Trump and migrants
On his first day in office, US President Donald Trump began by signing executive orders related to energy, immigration policy, national security, and the reversal of several decisions made by Joe Biden's administration. These documents do not require Congressional approval, allowing them to be implemented quickly. Notably, one of his executive orders declared illegal immigration at the US-Mexico border a national emergency. This involves strengthening border control with Mexico, resuming the wall's construction, and granting military personnel the authority to ensure order at the border.
On January 22, Trump signed an order to close the southern border of the country, shutting down entry for illegal migrants.
