Saturday, May 27, 2023
  • About us
    • Write for us
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms of use
    • Privacy Policy
  • RSS Feeds
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
DefenceTalk
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
DefenceTalk
No Result
View All Result

Pentagon prolongs US troop deployment at Mexico border

by Agence France-Presse
January 16, 2019
in Army News
2 min read
0
Pentagon prolongs US troop deployment at Mexico border
18
SHARES
14
VIEWS

The Pentagon said on Monday (Jan 14) it would extend until Sept 30 the deployment of active-duty soldiers and Coast Guard members at the US-Mexico border, while expanding the mission to include surveillance and detection.

Lengthening the troops’ mission past a Jan 31 deadline, the Pentagon said it was “transitioning its support at the south-western border from hardening ports of entry to mobile surveillance and detection, as well as concertina wire emplacement between ports of entry”.

“DOD will continue to provide aviation support,” the statement added, referring to the Department of Defence.

The Pentagon already has about 2,350 active-duty troops stationed along the boundary, deployed under a controversial order President Donald Trump gave last year before midterm elections in November as several thousand Central American migrants made their way to the border to seek asylum from violence and poverty in their own countries.

Critics decried Trump’s order as a costly political stunt to galvanise supporters ahead of the vote, in which his Republicans lost control of the House of Representatives.

Trump spoke of a “national emergency” and an “invasion” – initially suggesting US troops could shoot migrants if they threw stones at the US border.

The US military is not allowed in almost any case to get involved in domestic law enforcement and the border mission has put the supposedly non-political military in an uncomfortable spotlight.

About 2,200 National Guardsmen were supporting border operations even before Trump sent the active-duty troops.

The unusual deployment was supposed to end in mid-December, but the Department of Homeland Security asked that it be extended until January, a date which is now further prolonged.

The troops’ role had primarily been to erect miles of concertina-wire fencing along popular crossing points.

Trump is unwavering in his demand for a border barrier, which has triggered a major impasse with legislators and a partial government shutdown that is entering its fourth week.

The President only recently backed away from talk of an emergency declaration that would have freed up Department of Defence funds for a border barrier, after pressing it for days as a way out of the continuing budget stand-off.

The troop deployment was one of several issues on which Trump and former secretary of defence James Mattis disagreed before he resigned in December after the leader’s shock decision to pull troops from Syria.

Mattis said front-line border troops would only carry batons.

In November, he visited troops on the border and reiterated that their job in the short term was to assist under-resourced Customs and Border Protection agents and put up physical obstacles.

But “longer term, it’s somewhat to be determined”, he said at the time.

Some rank-and-file troops initially grumbled about the purpose of the mission to US media before they were placed under strict instructions not to voice personal opinions to the press.

Several soldiers AFP spoke to said their time on the border provided valuable real-world training, albeit without the risks of combat.

Twice since November, US Border Patrol agents have fired tear gas during attempted mass migrant crossings in the San Diego area.

Tags: bordermexicopentagonsecuritytroops
Previous Post

China takes lead in some military tech: Pentagon

Next Post

Upgraded J-20 Fighter Jet ‘Overwhelmingly Superior’ to US F-35: Analysts

Related Posts

Indonesia Orders Additional CAESAR Artillery Systems

France to send more mobile artillery to Ukraine

February 1, 2023

France will ship 12 more Caesar truck-mounted howitzers and fresh air defence equipment to Ukraine to bolster the fight against...

Leopard tanks to arrive in Ukraine around late March: Germany

Leopard tanks to arrive in Ukraine around late March: Germany

January 27, 2023

Leopard tanks pledged by Germany to help Ukraine repel Russia's invasion will arrive in "late March, early April", Defence Minister...

Next Post
Upgraded J-20 Fighter Jet ‘Overwhelmingly Superior’ to US F-35: Analysts

Upgraded J-20 Fighter Jet ‘Overwhelmingly Superior’ to US F-35: Analysts

Latest Defense News

China made third-largest air incursion this year, says Taiwan

China would gain swift air superiority over Taiwan, US leaks show

April 19, 2023
china third aircraft carrier PLAN

China sends warships and aircraft around Taiwan for second day

April 8, 2023
Japan defence ministry seeks $50 billion budget

Japan changes rules to allow aid to foreign militaries

April 6, 2023
Trump order targets Chinese internet giants TikTok, WeChat

TikTok hit with UK fine, Australia government ban

April 6, 2023
Finland gears up for historic NATO decision

Long NATO delay spells trouble for Sweden and alliance: experts

April 6, 2023
Russia says fired anti-ship missiles at mock target in Sea of Japan

Russia says fired anti-ship missiles at mock target in Sea of Japan

March 28, 2023

Defense Forum Discussions

  • Ukrainian - Russian War Memes.
  • The Russian-Ukrainian War Thread
  • Civil war in Sudan
  • Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0
  • Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF] News, Discussions and Updates
  • Indonesian Aero News
  • The Royal Navy Discussions and Updates
  • Indonesia: 'green water navy'
  • RNLAF AS532U2 Cougar Low Level
  • RMAF Future; need opinions
DefenceTalk

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com

Navigate Site

  • Defence Forum
  • Military Photos
  • RSS Feeds
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com