Politics

Trump Mobilizing National Guard To Border ‘Immediately’

Photo by John Moore/Getty Images

Saagar Enjeti White House Correspondent
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Members of the U.S. Army national guard will be deployed to the US-Mexico border to enhance border security measures, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen told reporters Wednesday.

“The President has directed that the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security work together with our governors to deploy the National Guard to our southwest border,” Nielsen announced, adding “While plans are being finalized, it’s our expectation that the National Guard will deploy personnel in support of CBP’s border security mission.”

“We do hope that the deployment begins immediately.”

The troops will assist the Department of Homeland Security and Border Patrol agents with aerial surveillance and other tasks. The troops will not reportedly interact with any illegal immigrants.

Nielsen further noted that these national guard personnel could be deployed to border as soon as Wednesday evening. Trump made the shock announcement of sending the U.S. military to the border Wednesday saying “we are going to be guarding our border with our military. That’s a big step.”

Nielsen stressed that all national guard deployments would be coordinated with the governors of states which border Mexico and the past use of such troops to enhance border security by the Bush and Obama administrations.

 

 

Saagar Enjeti