Author: Stephen Johnson / Source: Big Think
- Two large groups of migrants are currently traveling north through Mexico toward the U.S.
- About 5,200 U.S. troops will be sent to supplement 2,100 National Guardsmen already assisting officials at the U.S.-Mexico border.
- Officials said migrants will be treated humanely, but won’t be allowed to cross the U. S.-Mexico border.
The Trump administration plans to deploy 5,200 active-duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border by the end of week amid concerns that two large groups of migrants traveling north from South and Central America could soon cross into the U.S. illegally.
Dubbed Faithful Patriot, the operation will supplement the approximately 2,100 National Guardsmen who’ve recently been positioned in southern states to aid border officials. They’re preparing for the arrival of the so-called “caravan”, which refers to at least one group of approximately 3,000 to 4,000 migrants, many of whom are Honduran, slowly making their way on foot and by car toward the U.S.
Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Kevin K. McAleenan said the migrants are heading north under the false impression that they’ll be allowed to stay.
“Our message to the organizers and participants of this caravan is simple,” McAleenan said. “As the president and [Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen] have made clear, we will not allow a large group to enter the United States in an unlawful and unsafe manner. For those that seek to cross the border illegally, we will apprehend them and fully enforce the laws of the United States.”
He suggested that migrants seeking to make asylum claims go through the proper channels, or accept asylum in Mexico’s southern states, which was offered to caravan members by the Mexican government last week. About 1,000 migrants have applied for asylum in Mexico so far.
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