Negotiations in Afghanistan are going well, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday after US officials earlier this week said there had been significant progress in talks to end 17 years of war in the country.

Talks "are proceeding well," Trump wrote on Twitter. He did not address any possible peace accord with the Taliban or the presence of US troops in Afghanistan.

On Monday, US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad told the New York Times that the United States and the insurgent group had sketched the outlines of an eventual peace deal. Analysts, however, said there was no sign that the Taliban had agreed to US demands.

A US State Department spokesman said this week the talks had been "positive" but that no agreement had been reached.

The Trump administration has moved toward withdrawals of US forces after years of overseas deployments. A US official said last month that Trump planned to withdraw more than 5,000 of the 14,000 US troops in Afghanistan.

But Trump's fellow Republican US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday offered legislation urging the United States to keep troops in Afghanistan as well as Syria, although it was uncertain whether it would become law

Negotiations in Afghanistan are going well, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday after US officials earlier this week said there had been significant progress in talks to end 17 years of war in the country.

Negotiations in Afghanistan are going well, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday after US officials earlier this week said there had been significant progress in talks to end 17 years of war in the country. Talks "are proceeding well," Trump wrote on Twitter. He did not address any possible peace accord with the Taliban or the presence of US troops in Afghanistan. On Monday, US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad told the New York Times that the United States and the insurgent group had sketched the outlines of an eventual peace deal. Analysts, however, said there was no sign that the Taliban had agreed to US demands. A US State Department spokesman said this week the talks had been "positive" but that no agreement had been reached. The Trump administration has moved toward withdrawals of US forces after years of overseas deployments. A US official said last month that Trump planned to withdraw more than 5,000 of the 14,000 US troops in Afghanistan. But Trump's fellow Republican US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday offered legislation urging the United States to keep troops in Afghanistan as well as Syria, although it was uncertain whether it would become law

Trump says Afghanistan talks 'proceeding well'

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-bound-honduran-migrant-caravan-grows-as-trump-argues-for-wall-190630">Hundreds of Hondurans</a> have set out on a trek to the United States, forming another caravan that US President Donald Trump cited Tuesday to justify building a wall on the border with Mexico.

"A big new Caravan is heading up to our Southern Border from Honduras," Trump tweeted Tuesday. "Only a Wall, or Steel Barrier, will keep our Country safe! Stop playing political games and end the Shutdown!"

As the procession left the town of San Pedro Sula under a steady rain Monday night, one of the migrants summed up their plight: "We are leaving because there is crime and no work," said Juan Garcia, 52.

Many said they had answered an anonymous social media posting referring to a January 15 <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/need-to-solve-a-border-dispute-look-to-ethiopia-and-uzbekistan-188937">migrant </a>caravan leaving Honduras' second city. Most are young men, but the caravan also includes older people, including women carrying children. Some had wrapped themselves in the blue-and-white Honduran flag.

"In this country, there is nothing. Only unemployment, corruption, violence, extortion, which is why we fled the country," said Darwin Omar Reyes, 19, from the capital Tegucigalpa.

More than 500 people set out from the center of San Pedro Sula, which is 180 kilometers (110 miles) north of the capital Tegucigalpa.

It was from the same transport hub that some 2,000 Hondurans left on October 13 in the first of a series of US-bound caravans. That and other migrant flows from El Salvador and Guatemala came to total some 13,000 people.

Tougher border policies

More than half turned around and went home, eventually. Hundreds -- down from much larger numbers late last year -- remain at the Mexican border with the United States, held back by tougher border policies under Trump and support among his base for his proposed border wall.

Marlin Alcantara, 31, said from among a group of people in the back of a pick-up truck that she was fleeing domestic violence and had documentation that would support her entry to the US. She was travelling with two daughters aged nine and 13.

"My particular case is delicate. We were victims of my mother's husband. The miserable man is in prison now but it's not enough. The worst thing is that she is on his side," said Alcantara. "That's why I made the decision to go," she said.

Kevin Ramos, 18, worked at a coffee plantation in western Honduras before he was made unemployed two months ago.&nbsp;

"With God's help, we can get a job in the United States," he said. He said his father had urged him to join the caravan.

Many said they had lost hope under President Juan Orlando Hernandez. "We don't want that president, who is destroying our lives," said Javier Moran.

Hernandez's rise to power in 2014 elections provided a surge of hope for Hondurans, but Moran said that a year into his second term, that hope had dissipated.&nbsp;

Living in shelters

According to Honduras' embassy in Mexico, around 2,500 Hondurans from earlier caravans are currently living in shelters in Mexico, and that only about 3 per cent of them are likely to achieve their goal of asylum in the United States.

The Honduran foreign ministry estimates that, in all, around 13,000 Hondurans arrived in Mexico in recent months, of which around 7,200 voluntarily returned to their country after being blocked at the Mexico-US border. A total of 11 migrants had died.

The first caravan, on October 13, sparked a Twitter-borne stream of anti-migrant invective from the US president.

Trump has refused to sign off on budgets for swaths of government departments in a showdown with Democrats over funding for his border wall project, leading to the longest government shutdown in US history.

The president has made the migrant caravans one of his main targets as part of his broader anti-immigration drive in mid-term elections last November.

Hundreds of Hondurans have set out on a trek to the United States, forming another caravan that US President Donald Trump cited Tuesday to justify building a wall on the border with Mexico.

Hundreds of Hondurans have set out on a trek to the United States, forming another caravan that US President Donald Trump cited Tuesday to justify building a wall on the border with Mexico. "A big new Caravan is heading up to our Southern Border from Honduras," Trump tweeted Tuesday. "Only a Wall, or Steel Barrier, will keep our Country safe! Stop playing political games and end the Shutdown!" As the procession left the town of San Pedro Sula under a steady rain Monday night, one of the migrants summed up their plight: "We are leaving because there is crime and no work," said Juan Garcia, 52. Many said they had answered an anonymous social media posting referring to a January 15 migrant caravan leaving Honduras' second city. Most are young men, but the caravan also includes older people, including women carrying children. Some had wrapped themselves in the blue-and-white Honduran flag. "In this country, there is nothing. Only unemployment, corruption, violence, extortion, which is why we fled the country," said Darwin Omar Reyes, 19, from the capital Tegucigalpa. More than 500 people set out from the center of San Pedro Sula, which is 180 kilometers (110 miles) north of the capital Tegucigalpa. It was from the same transport hub that some 2,000 Hondurans left on October 13 in the first of a series of US-bound caravans. That and other migrant flows from El Salvador and Guatemala came to total some 13,000 people. Tougher border policies More than half turned around and went home, eventually. Hundreds -- down from much larger numbers late last year -- remain at the Mexican border with the United States, held back by tougher border policies under Trump and support among his base for his proposed border wall. Marlin Alcantara, 31, said from among a group of people in the back of a pick-up truck that she was fleeing domestic violence and had documentation that would support her entry to the US. She was travelling with two daughters aged nine and 13. "My particular case is delicate. We were victims of my mother's husband. The miserable man is in prison now but it's not enough. The worst thing is that she is on his side," said Alcantara. "That's why I made the decision to go," she said. Kevin Ramos, 18, worked at a coffee plantation in western Honduras before he was made unemployed two months ago. "With God's help, we can get a job in the United States," he said. He said his father had urged him to join the caravan. Many said they had lost hope under President Juan Orlando Hernandez. "We don't want that president, who is destroying our lives," said Javier Moran. Hernandez's rise to power in 2014 elections provided a surge of hope for Hondurans, but Moran said that a year into his second term, that hope had dissipated. Living in shelters According to Honduras' embassy in Mexico, around 2,500 Hondurans from earlier caravans are currently living in shelters in Mexico, and that only about 3 per cent of them are likely to achieve their goal of asylum in the United States. The Honduran foreign ministry estimates that, in all, around 13,000 Hondurans arrived in Mexico in recent months, of which around 7,200 voluntarily returned to their country after being blocked at the Mexico-US border. A total of 11 migrants had died. The first caravan, on October 13, sparked a Twitter-borne stream of anti-migrant invective from the US president. Trump has refused to sign off on budgets for swaths of government departments in a showdown with Democrats over funding for his border wall project, leading to the longest government shutdown in US history. The president has made the migrant caravans one of his main targets as part of his broader anti-immigration drive in mid-term elections last November.

Hondurans form a new US-bound caravan, drawing fire from Trump

President Donald Trump's 2017 inaugural committee is being investigated by federal prosecutors in New York over allegations that it misspent funds or accepted donations in exchange for access to his administration, according to a media report.

The inauguration committee had raised a record US $107 million for expenses for Trump's inauguration and events associated with it.

The Wall Street Journal on Thursday reported that the US Attorney's office in Manhattan is also investigating whether the committee accepted donations from individuals looking to gain influence in or access to the new administration.

"The criminal probe by the Manhattan US attorney's office, which is in its early stages, also is examining whether some of the committee's top donors gave money in exchange for access to the incoming Trump administration, policy concessions or to influence official administration positions, some of the people said,"&nbsp;the financial daily reported.

The daily said that "giving money in exchange of political favours could run afoul of federal corruption laws."

The White House distanced the president from his inauguration committee, saying it had nothing to do with Trump or his wife Melania.

"That doesn't have anything to do with the president or the first lady," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters.

"The biggest thing the president did, his engagement in the inauguration, was to come here and raise his hand and take the oath of office. The president was focused on the transition at that time and not on any of the planning for the inauguration," Sanders said.

According to the daily, federal prosecutors in Manhattan are investigating the matter from the documents it recovered during raid at the office and residences of Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen.

As of now, the inaugural committee has not been asked for records, the daily said.&nbsp;

During a raid of Cohen's properties in April, a recorded conversation between him and Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former adviser to first lady Melania, was seized, according to the newspaper.&nbsp;

Wolkoff expressed concern in the conversation about how the inaugural committee was spending money, a person familiar with the Cohen investigation told the Journal.

President Donald Trump's 2017 inaugural committee is being investigated by federal prosecutors in New York over allegations that it misspent funds or accepted donations in exchange for access to his administration, according to a media report.

President Donald Trump's 2017 inaugural committee is being investigated by federal prosecutors in New York over allegations that it misspent funds or accepted donations in exchange for access to his administration, according to a media report. The inauguration committee had raised a record US $107 million for expenses for Trump's inauguration and events associated with it. The Wall Street Journal on Thursday reported that the US Attorney's office in Manhattan is also investigating whether the committee accepted donations from individuals looking to gain influence in or access to the new administration. "The criminal probe by the Manhattan US attorney's office, which is in its early stages, also is examining whether some of the committee's top donors gave money in exchange for access to the incoming Trump administration, policy concessions or to influence official administration positions, some of the people said," the financial daily reported. The daily said that "giving money in exchange of political favours could run afoul of federal corruption laws." The White House distanced the president from his inauguration committee, saying it had nothing to do with Trump or his wife Melania. "That doesn't have anything to do with the president or the first lady," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters. "The biggest thing the president did, his engagement in the inauguration, was to come here and raise his hand and take the oath of office. The president was focused on the transition at that time and not on any of the planning for the inauguration," Sanders said. According to the daily, federal prosecutors in Manhattan are investigating the matter from the documents it recovered during raid at the office and residences of Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen. As of now, the inaugural committee has not been asked for records, the daily said. During a raid of Cohen's properties in April, a recorded conversation between him and Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former adviser to first lady Melania, was seized, according to the newspaper. Wolkoff expressed concern in the conversation about how the inaugural committee was spending money, a person familiar with the Cohen investigation told the Journal.

Trump's inaugural committee under investigation over fund wrongdoing: Report

US President Donald Trump told the special counsel investigating possible collusion between his campaign and Russia that he was not aware ahead of time of a meeting in June 2016 between campaign officials and Russians, Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani said on Wednesday.

Trump`s response, in written answers to questions posed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, was first reported by CNN.

"Almost all the answers he gave are consistent with what he said publicly, and publicly he said he did not know about it," Giuliani said.&nbsp;

Trump`s oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., has said he agreed to the meeting after being promised damaging information on Hillary Clinton, Trump`s Democratic opponent in the 2016 election. Trump`s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and senior campaign aide Paul Manafort also took part in the June 9, 2016, meeting.

A spokesman for Mueller declined to comment.&nbsp;

Trump, who has repeatedly denied any collusion between his campaign and Moscow, has said publicly he had no prior knowledge of the June 2016 meeting.

US intelligence agencies have said Russia interfered in the election with the aim of tipping it towards Trump and away from Clinton. Russia has denied any interference.

US President Donald Trump told the special counsel investigating possible collusion between his campaign and Russia that he was not aware ahead of time of a meeting in June 2016 between campaign officials and Russians, Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani said on Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump told the special counsel investigating possible collusion between his campaign and Russia that he was not aware ahead of time of a meeting in June 2016 between campaign officials and Russians, Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani said on Wednesday. Trump`s response, in written answers to questions posed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, was first reported by CNN. "Almost all the answers he gave are consistent with what he said publicly, and publicly he said he did not know about it," Giuliani said. Trump`s oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., has said he agreed to the meeting after being promised damaging information on Hillary Clinton, Trump`s Democratic opponent in the 2016 election. Trump`s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and senior campaign aide Paul Manafort also took part in the June 9, 2016, meeting. A spokesman for Mueller declined to comment. Trump, who has repeatedly denied any collusion between his campaign and Moscow, has said publicly he had no prior knowledge of the June 2016 meeting. US intelligence agencies have said Russia interfered in the election with the aim of tipping it towards Trump and away from Clinton. Russia has denied any interference.

Trump told Mueller he had no prior knowledge of meeting between campaign, Russians: Guiliani

US President Donald Trump on Thursday renewed a threat to close the US-Mexico border if the situation there gets out of control and warned it would hurt Mexico's trade with the United States.

"If we find that it gets to a level where we are going to lose control or where people are going to start getting hurt, we will close entry into the country for a period of time until we can get it under control," he told reporters.

"The whole border. I mean the whole border. Mexico will not be able to sell their cars into the United States where they make so many cars," he said.

President Donald Trump had issued the proclamation earlier this month as a matter of what he called national security as a US-bound caravan of Central American migrants made its way through Mexico toward the US border.

A federal judge on Monday (November 19) put a temporary halt to a Trump administration order denying the possibility of asylum to people who enter the US illegally.

(With inputs from AFP)

US President Donald Trump on Thursday renewed a threat to close the US-Mexico border if the situation there gets out of control and warned it would hurt Mexico's trade with the United States.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday renewed a threat to close the US-Mexico border if the situation there gets out of control and warned it would hurt Mexico's trade with the United States. "If we find that it gets to a level where we are going to lose control or where people are going to start getting hurt, we will close entry into the country for a period of time until we can get it under control," he told reporters. "The whole border. I mean the whole border. Mexico will not be able to sell their cars into the United States where they make so many cars," he said. President Donald Trump had issued the proclamation earlier this month as a matter of what he called national security as a US-bound caravan of Central American migrants made its way through Mexico toward the US border. A federal judge on Monday (November 19) put a temporary halt to a Trump administration order denying the possibility of asylum to people who enter the US illegally. (With inputs from AFP)

Trump renews threat to close down entire border with Mexico

US President Donald Trump on Thursday launched a fresh attack on the Russia investigation, branding it a "disgrace to our Nation" a week after he fired his attorney general, raising questions about the probe's future.

"They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts. They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want," Trump wrote on Twitter.

"They are a disgrace to our Nation and don't care how many lives (they) ruin."

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The inner workings of the Mueller investigation are a total mess. They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts. They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want. They are a disgrace to our Nation and don’t...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1063042585802039296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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....care how many lives the ruin. These are Angry People, including the highly conflicted Bob Mueller, who worked for Obama for 8 years. They won’t even look at all of the bad acts and crimes on the other side. A TOTAL WITCH HUNT LIKE NO OTHER IN AMERICAN HISTORY!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1063046973857718272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The president has frequently lashed out at the probe led by special counsel Robert Mueller into Moscow's interference in the 2016 US elections and whether there was collusion by the Trump campaign.

But his latest missive takes on new significance in the wake of his appointment of Matthew Whitaker, a past public critic of the probe, as acting attorney general replacing the sacked Jeff Sessions.

The move puts Whitaker, Sessions' former chief of staff, in charge of overseeing the Mueller probe.

On Wednesday, Republican Senator Jeff Flake, a critic of the president, and Democratic Senator Chris Coons attempted to introduced a measure to protect Mueller, but it was blocked by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer has said that if Whitaker refuses to recuse himself from the probe, as Sessions had done, Democrats will seek to attach legislation protecting Mueller to a must-pass spending bill that will be up for consideration in the coming weeks.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday launched a fresh attack on the Russia investigation, branding it a "disgrace to our Nation" a week after he fired his attorney general, raising questions about the probe's future.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday launched a fresh attack on the Russia investigation, branding it a "disgrace to our Nation" a week after he fired his attorney general, raising questions about the probe's future. "They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts. They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want," Trump wrote on Twitter. "They are a disgrace to our Nation and don't care how many lives (they) ruin." The inner workings of the Mueller investigation are a total mess. They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts. They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want. They are a disgrace to our Nation and don’t... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 15, 2018 × ....care how many lives the ruin. These are Angry People, including the highly conflicted Bob Mueller, who worked for Obama for 8 years. They won’t even look at all of the bad acts and crimes on the other side. A TOTAL WITCH HUNT LIKE NO OTHER IN AMERICAN HISTORY! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 15, 2018 × The president has frequently lashed out at the probe led by special counsel Robert Mueller into Moscow's interference in the 2016 US elections and whether there was collusion by the Trump campaign. But his latest missive takes on new significance in the wake of his appointment of Matthew Whitaker, a past public critic of the probe, as acting attorney general replacing the sacked Jeff Sessions. The move puts Whitaker, Sessions' former chief of staff, in charge of overseeing the Mueller probe. On Wednesday, Republican Senator Jeff Flake, a critic of the president, and Democratic Senator Chris Coons attempted to introduced a measure to protect Mueller, but it was blocked by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer has said that if Whitaker refuses to recuse himself from the probe, as Sessions had done, Democrats will seek to attach legislation protecting Mueller to a must-pass spending bill that will be up for consideration in the coming weeks.

Russia investigation 'disgrace to our nation,' says Trump

When the US Congress reconvenes on November 13, it will face a deadline less than a month later to fund parts of the federal government and a possible showdown over money for President Donald Trump's proposed US-Mexico border wall.

Taking a confrontational position on the issue, Trump said at a news conference on Wednesday he could not commit to avoiding a partial government shutdown if Congress refuses to provide him all the funding he wants for his wall.

"We need the money to build the wall, the whole wall, not pieces of it," Trump told reporters, days before Congress reconvenes for its mid-November to mid-December "lame duck" session.

Trump has issued ultimatums about wall funding before, with little impact, even with his own Republican Party in majority control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Even though Tuesday's congressional elections gave the Democrats majority control of the House, the Republicans will still control both chambers until January.

That means that they will need Democratic support for any funding bills in the Senate, where Republicans have 51 of 100 seats. They will need 60 votes to advance legislation.

Having won control of the House in the elections, Democrats said they will be even less motivated than before to meet Trump's wall demands.

If the two parties cannot reach a funding deal, there would be a partial government shutdown, with so-called "essential services," including some at the Department of Homeland Security, likely remaining in operation.

"We need to work this out," Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said on Wednesday. "Seventy-five per cent of the government was funded before the end of September."

Lawmakers reached a bipartisan agreement in September to fund much of the federal government. The fight over money for the wall was delayed until after the elections by including only temporary funding until December 8 for some government services, including Homeland Security.

"We're going to do the best we can to try to achieve the president's priorities and hopefully we will not be headed down that path," McConnell said of a partial shutdown.

He said Congress would also try to finalize a five-year reauthorization of the farm bill during the "lame duck" session. The legislation expired at the end of September but most of its programs remain in place through the end of the year.

When the US Congress reconvenes on November 13, it will face a deadline less than a month later to fund parts of the federal government and a possible showdown over money for President Donald Trump's proposed US-Mexico border wall.

When the US Congress reconvenes on November 13, it will face a deadline less than a month later to fund parts of the federal government and a possible showdown over money for President Donald Trump's proposed US-Mexico border wall. Taking a confrontational position on the issue, Trump said at a news conference on Wednesday he could not commit to avoiding a partial government shutdown if Congress refuses to provide him all the funding he wants for his wall. "We need the money to build the wall, the whole wall, not pieces of it," Trump told reporters, days before Congress reconvenes for its mid-November to mid-December "lame duck" session. Trump has issued ultimatums about wall funding before, with little impact, even with his own Republican Party in majority control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Even though Tuesday's congressional elections gave the Democrats majority control of the House, the Republicans will still control both chambers until January. That means that they will need Democratic support for any funding bills in the Senate, where Republicans have 51 of 100 seats. They will need 60 votes to advance legislation. Having won control of the House in the elections, Democrats said they will be even less motivated than before to meet Trump's wall demands. If the two parties cannot reach a funding deal, there would be a partial government shutdown, with so-called "essential services," including some at the Department of Homeland Security, likely remaining in operation. "We need to work this out," Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said on Wednesday. "Seventy-five per cent of the government was funded before the end of September." Lawmakers reached a bipartisan agreement in September to fund much of the federal government. The fight over money for the wall was delayed until after the elections by including only temporary funding until December 8 for some government services, including Homeland Security. "We're going to do the best we can to try to achieve the president's priorities and hopefully we will not be headed down that path," McConnell said of a partial shutdown. He said Congress would also try to finalize a five-year reauthorization of the farm bill during the "lame duck" session. The legislation expired at the end of September but most of its programs remain in place through the end of the year.

Battle looms in US Congress over money for Trump's border wall

President Donald Trump on Thursday warned that soldiers deployed to the Mexican border could shoot Central American migrants who throw stones at them while attempting to cross illegally.

Trump told journalists at the White House that a group of several thousand migrants walking through Mexico towards the US border had thrown rocks "viciously and violently" at Mexican police.

"We're not going to put up with that. They want to throw rocks at our military, our military fights back," he said.&nbsp;

"I told them (troops) consider it (a rock) a rifle. When they throw rocks like they did at the Mexican military and police, I say consider it a rifle."

Trump spoke during a presentation of his controversial policy on cracking down against what he says is uncontrolled illegal immigration.

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Contacted for comment, Pentagon spokesman Army Lieutenant Colonel Jamie Davis said the military would not discuss hypothetical situations on the use of force "but our forces are trained professionals who always have the inherent right of self-defense."

"I would also emphasize that our forces are in support of DHS/CBP, who are performing law enforcement activities," he added, referring to the frontline Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection.

Trump has ramped up the rhetoric daily ahead of next Tuesday's midterm congressional elections, accusing the opposition Democrats of wanting to throw open the borders to floods of "tough people," "rapists" and other types of threats.

The current focus of the president's repeated claim to be acting against "an invasion" is the dwindling group of a few thousand impoverished migrants trying to get north, but still far from the US border.

Trump said that from now on, the United States will stop its policy of allowing people to claim political asylum at the border unless they have first gone through an official border post.

Those caught at the border will be held in tent camps or other facilities until they can be deported or have their requests approved, he said.

Critics say that such a radical rethink to asylum policies could violate current laws.

But Trump rejected this.

"This is totally legal. No, we're stopping people at the border. This is an invasion, and nobody is even questioning that," he said.

"We'll be doing an executive order sometime next week," he said, giving little further detail.

Despite Trump's increasingly severe warnings of immigration chaos, the government on Wednesday issued figures saying that only about 400,000 people have been apprehended at the border in 2018, down from around 1.6 million in 2000.

Trump said he was not anti-immigrant but wanted immigration to be completely brought under control.

"Mass uncontrolled immigration is especially unfair to the many wonderful law-abiding immigrants already living here who followed the rules and waited their turn," he said.&nbsp;

"Some have been waiting for many years. Some have been waiting a long time. They have done everything perfectly, and they are going to come in."

President Donald Trump on Thursday warned that soldiers deployed to the Mexican border could shoot Central American migrants who throw stones at them while attempting to cross illegally.

President Donald Trump on Thursday warned that soldiers deployed to the Mexican border could shoot Central American migrants who throw stones at them while attempting to cross illegally. Trump told journalists at the White House that a group of several thousand migrants walking through Mexico towards the US border had thrown rocks "viciously and violently" at Mexican police. "We're not going to put up with that. They want to throw rocks at our military, our military fights back," he said. "I told them (troops) consider it (a rock) a rifle. When they throw rocks like they did at the Mexican military and police, I say consider it a rifle." Trump spoke during a presentation of his controversial policy on cracking down against what he says is uncontrolled illegal immigration. × Contacted for comment, Pentagon spokesman Army Lieutenant Colonel Jamie Davis said the military would not discuss hypothetical situations on the use of force "but our forces are trained professionals who always have the inherent right of self-defense." "I would also emphasize that our forces are in support of DHS/CBP, who are performing law enforcement activities," he added, referring to the frontline Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection. Trump has ramped up the rhetoric daily ahead of next Tuesday's midterm congressional elections, accusing the opposition Democrats of wanting to throw open the borders to floods of "tough people," "rapists" and other types of threats. The current focus of the president's repeated claim to be acting against "an invasion" is the dwindling group of a few thousand impoverished migrants trying to get north, but still far from the US border. Trump said that from now on, the United States will stop its policy of allowing people to claim political asylum at the border unless they have first gone through an official border post. Those caught at the border will be held in tent camps or other facilities until they can be deported or have their requests approved, he said. Critics say that such a radical rethink to asylum policies could violate current laws. But Trump rejected this. "This is totally legal. No, we're stopping people at the border. This is an invasion, and nobody is even questioning that," he said. "We'll be doing an executive order sometime next week," he said, giving little further detail. Despite Trump's increasingly severe warnings of immigration chaos, the government on Wednesday issued figures saying that only about 400,000 people have been apprehended at the border in 2018, down from around 1.6 million in 2000. Trump said he was not anti-immigrant but wanted immigration to be completely brought under control. "Mass uncontrolled immigration is especially unfair to the many wonderful law-abiding immigrants already living here who followed the rules and waited their turn," he said. "Some have been waiting for many years. Some have been waiting a long time. They have done everything perfectly, and they are going to come in."

Trump threatens to shoot migrants who throw stones at US military

US pastor Andrew Brunson was flown out of Turkey on Friday after a court freed him from two years of detention, in a step that could improve US-Turkish ties strained by disputes over Syria, Iran and Ankara's planned purchase of Russian military equipment.

Evangelical pastor Andrew Brunson and his wife were greeted by US Ambassador Richard Grenell during a refuelling stop in Germany, the envoy said on social network Twitter. US media said the meeting took place at Ramstein Air Base in southwestern Germany.

"He's almost home thanks to @realDonaldTrump," Grenell wrote. "When I presented him with the US flag, he immediately kissed it."

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
I welcomed Pastor Brunson &amp; his wife to Germany on their refueling stop. He’s almost home thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>. 
When I presented him with the US flag, he immediately kissed it. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/agratefulnation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#agratefulnation</a> <a href="https://t.co/b82gA7PXVr">pic.twitter.com/b82gA7PXVr</a>
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardGrenell/status/1050904034310275073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Brunson was expected to land at Joint Base Andrews near Washington at around noon EDT (1600 GMT) on Saturday after a stop in Germany for a medical check-up. President Donald Trump said Brunson would probably visit the White House Oval Office on Saturday.

Brunson was jailed two year ago and had been under house arrest since July. He was accused of links to Kurdish militants and supporters of Fethullah Gulen, the cleric blamed by Turkey's government for a coup attempt in 2016.&nbsp;

The Turkish court sentenced Brunson to three years and 1-1/2 months in prison on terrorism charges, but said he would not serve any further jail time and freed him.

US pastor Andrew Brunson was flown out of Turkey on Friday after a court freed him from two years of detention, in a step that could improve US-Turkish ties strained by disputes over Syria, Iran and Ankara's planned purchase of Russian military equipment.

US pastor Andrew Brunson was flown out of Turkey on Friday after a court freed him from two years of detention, in a step that could improve US-Turkish ties strained by disputes over Syria, Iran and Ankara's planned purchase of Russian military equipment. Evangelical pastor Andrew Brunson and his wife were greeted by US Ambassador Richard Grenell during a refuelling stop in Germany, the envoy said on social network Twitter. US media said the meeting took place at Ramstein Air Base in southwestern Germany. "He's almost home thanks to @realDonaldTrump," Grenell wrote. "When I presented him with the US flag, he immediately kissed it." I welcomed Pastor Brunson & his wife to Germany on their refueling stop. He’s almost home thanks to @realDonaldTrump. When I presented him with the US flag, he immediately kissed it. #agratefulnation pic.twitter.com/b82gA7PXVr — Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) October 13, 2018 × Brunson was expected to land at Joint Base Andrews near Washington at around noon EDT (1600 GMT) on Saturday after a stop in Germany for a medical check-up. President Donald Trump said Brunson would probably visit the White House Oval Office on Saturday. Brunson was jailed two year ago and had been under house arrest since July. He was accused of links to Kurdish militants and supporters of Fethullah Gulen, the cleric blamed by Turkey's government for a coup attempt in 2016. The Turkish court sentenced Brunson to three years and 1-1/2 months in prison on terrorism charges, but said he would not serve any further jail time and freed him.

Freed pastor Brunson greeted by US Ambassador at stopover in Germany

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