President Trump has instructed the Department of Homeland Security not to allow caravans of people traveling from Central America to cross the border into the U.S., the Washington Times reported on Monday.
The caravans were apparently moving through Mexico and are carrying as many as 1,500 migrants who intended on coming to the States.
The President made the announcement on Twitter, where he also criticized the Democrats and the current sanctuary city laws in many of the border states.
“Despite the Democrat inspired laws on Sanctuary Cities and the Border being so bad and one sided, I have instructed the Secretary of Homeland Security not to let these large Caravans of people into our Country. It is a disgrace. We are the only Country in the World so naive! WALL,” Trump tweeted.
Despite the Democrat inspired laws on Sanctuary Cities and the Border being so bad and one sided, I have instructed the Secretary of Homeland Security not to let these large Caravans of people into our Country. It is a disgrace. We are the only Country in the World so naive! WALL
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 23, 2018
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen issued a statement supporting the President’s request.
“DHS continues to monitor the remnants of the ‘caravan’ of individuals headed to our Southern border with the apparent intention of entering the United States illegally,” Nielsen said in a statement, according to Fox News. “A sovereign nation that cannot — or worse, chooses not — to defend its borders will soon cease to be a sovereign nation. The Trump Administration is committed to enforcing our immigration laws – whether persons are part of this ‘caravan’ or not.”
Thousands of men, women and children have attempted to escape gang-controlled cities in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras and sought to seek refuge in the U.S. Citing the grueling conditions of traveling thousands of miles and the chance that the U.S. will remain firm in not allowing anyone to cross, many migrants have decided to stay in Mexico. However, hundreds still wait for the opportunity to cross the border, an issue that Trump said needs to be added to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
“Mexico, whose laws on immigration are very tough, must stop people from going through Mexico and into the U.S. We may make this a condition of the new NAFTA Agreement. Our Country cannot accept what is happening! Also, we must get Wall funding fast,” the President added.
Mexico, whose laws on immigration are very tough, must stop people from going through Mexico and into the U.S. We may make this a condition of the new NAFTA Agreement. Our Country cannot accept what is happening! Also, we must get Wall funding fast.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 23, 2018
The President also deployed hundreds of National Guard troops to the southern states this month.
While Texas, New Mexico and Arizona fully embraced the President’s memorandum, California Gov. Jerry Brown said last week that he would allow troops at the border only if they refrained from any kind of immigration enforcement.
