[ad_1]
WASHINGTON – President Trump said Wednesday that he was ready to deploy up to 15,000 troops to the US-Mexico border in anticipation of a caravan of Central American migrants, which would greatly increase the number indicated by the administration earlier in the week.
"They are not going to our country," Trump told reporters before leaving for Florida and a political rally.
Earlier in the day, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis defended the deployment of thousands of soldiers at the border and rejected criticism that the US military operation was motivated by mid-term politics. , saying: "We do not do stunts".
Mr. Mattis made these remarks at a Pentagon meeting with his South Korean counterpart, marking his first public sightings since the US military declared deploying more than 5,200 soldiers on active duty in the United States. least three border states.
President Trump has made immigration and border security a priority issue in the last days of the election, potentially moving several House and Senate races, including competitions held in the United States. Border States.
In addition to troop deployments, Trump said he will sign an order to end the automatic citizenship of US-born children whose parents are undocumented immigrants. Birthright citizenship is granted under the 14th Amendment. Lawyers have dismissed Mr. Trump's draft decree as unconstitutional and critics called him a new campaign stuntman.
The President of the House, Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) Also rejected the idea: "You can not end citizenship as a birthright with an executive order," he said. declared. "We did not like that when Obama tried to change the immigration laws through executive action and, of course, as curators, we believe in the Constitution "
Mr. Trump, who believes that citizenship has the meaning of birth encourages illegal migration, was referred Wednesday
: "Paul Ryan should focus on holding the majority rather than giving his opinion on Birthright Citizenship, something he knows nothing about!"
Troops deployed at the border should be on site in anticipation of a caravan of about 4,000 asylum-seekers and Central American migrants marching towards the US border.
Crossing Mexico on foot, the caravan is about 900 km away and should not arrive for weeks. A second caravan, smaller, crossed the border between Guatemala and Mexico on Tuesday and should also head for the US border.
It is unclear which border crossings members of a caravan would attempt to cross.
Proponents of the military response said that caravans are increasingly organized and violent and demand safer US borders.
"Our soldiers are mobilized on the southern border. Many more troops to come. We will NOT let these caravans, which are also made up of very bad thugs and gang members, enter the United States. Our border is sacred, they must enter legally. TURN AROUND! "Mr. Trump tweeted on Wednesday.
The White House has not provided any evidence that criminals or gang members are hiding among the migrants. Many migrants have said they are fleeing violence and oppression in their country of origin.
The military mission at the border, dubbed Operation Faithful Patriot, marks the largest deployment of US troops during its nearly two-year tenure. Since the Pentagon first suggested troops to head to the border at the end of last week, observers and retired army officers, increasingly critical, have criticized Mr. Mattis to allow him to politicize troop deployments.
US troops are not legally allowed to enforce US laws in the country. The Pentagon said its mission was to provide logistical, medical and transport support to customs and border protection officials. In addition, military commanders said the troops would be responsible for "strengthening" the entry points.
Until now, the Pentagon has not specified which units will be part of the mission nor why so many troops are needed. Troops must be in place until mid-December.
Unless the first caravan speeds up by taking buses or trucks at the border, it should not arrive before that time.
-Alex Leary contributed to this article
Write to Nancy A. Youssef at [email protected]
