President Donald Trump is still considering closing the U.S.-Mexico border, or sending in the U.S. military, this as another “very big” migrant caravan approaches the southern border, he tweeted Wednesday.
“A very big Caravan of over 20,000 people started up through Mexico. It has been reduced in size by Mexico but is still coming. Mexico must apprehend the remainder or we will be forced to close that section of the Border & call up the Military,” he wrote. “The Coyotes & Cartels have weapons!”
A very big Caravan of over 20,000 people started up through Mexico. It has been reduced in size by Mexico but is still coming. Mexico must apprehend the remainder or we will be forced to close that section of the Border & call up the Military. The Coyotes & Cartels have weapons!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 24, 2019
The size of this particular migrant caravan is not known for certain. Mexican police have been detaining hundreds of migrants from Central America as they are headed toward the U.S., according to reports.
About 30 minutes later, Trump also tweeted: “Mexico’s Soldiers recently pulled guns on our National Guard Soldiers, probably as a diversionary tactic for drug smugglers on the Border. Better not happen again! We are now sending ARMED SOLDIERS to the Border. Mexico is not doing nearly enough in apprehending & returning!”
Mexico’s Soldiers recently pulled guns on our National Guard Soldiers, probably as a diversionary tactic for drug smugglers on the Border. Better not happen again! We are now sending ARMED SOLDIERS to the Border. Mexico is not doing nearly enough in apprehending & returning!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 24, 2019
The U.S. military recently confirmed that two U.S. Army soldiers were disarmed, detained and questioned by several Mexican troops who crossed into the U.S. earlier this month.
The soldiers were reportedly sitting in an unmarked Customs and Border Protection-owned Chevrolet Tahoe just south of the border fence but north of the actual border in Texas when they were confronted.
The soldiers are part of B Battery, 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment from Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, and deployed as part of the southern border support mission ordered by President Trump in October 2018.
Trump has said he wants to call up more members of the military for border support, and has also threatened to close the U.S.-Mexico border before.
Approximately 5,000 U.S. service members are deployed to the southern border – 3,000 of which are active duty troops and some 2,000 National Guardsmen.
In the midst of other tweets Wednesday morning, Trump also reserved characters for Border Patrol, pointing out the “great job” they are doing at the southern border, but pointing out that the Democrats is Congress are not acting to protect the border.
“Can anyone comprehend what a GREAT job Border Patrol and Law Enforcement is doing on our Southern Border. So far this year they have APPREHENDED 418,000 plus illegal immigrants, way up from last year. Mexico is doing very little for us. DEMS IN CONGRESS MUST ACT NOW!”
Can anyone comprehend what a GREAT job Border Patrol and Law Enforcement is doing on our Southern Border. So far this year they have APPREHENDED 418,000 plus illegal immigrants, way up from last year. Mexico is doing very little for us. DEMS IN CONGRESS MUST ACT NOW!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 24, 2019
