<p>US president Donald Trump said today that he would be sending "armed soldiers to the border" with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-warns-of-deep-concern-over-armed-groups-on-us-border-212218">Mexico since the country </a>wasn't doing enough in "apprehending and returning smugglers at the border".</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">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 &amp; returning!</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1121021160827887616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>"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!," the US president said, adding, "We are now sending armed soldiers to the border."</p>

<p>Trump appeared to be referring to an April 13 incident in which Mexican troops reportedly questioned and pointed their weapons at two US troops conducting surveillance on the border.</p>

<p>US defence officials had said earlier that two US soldiers were in an unmarked vehicle conducting surveillance on the American side of the border when they were approached by five to six Mexican military personnel.</p>

<p>The officials said the Mexican soldiers pointed their weapons at the US troops, removed a soldier's sidearm and returned it to their unmarked vehicle. Although the area was on the US side of the border north of the Rio Grande in Texas, it was south of the border fence.</p>

<p>Mexico said on Saturday had expressed “deep concern” about armed groups that intimidate and extort migrants on the border. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico had condemned the United Constitutional Patriots, which patrols the southern US border in New Mexico, as a “fascist militia organization” operating outside the law.</p>

<p>The group has posted videos showing members dressed in camouflage and armed with semi-automatic rifles holding groups of migrants, many Central American families seeking asylum&nbsp;until US Border Patrol agents arrive.</p>

<p>The small volunteer group says it is helping the Border Patrol deal with a surge in undocumented migrants at the southern border.</p>


US president Donald Trump said today that he would be sending "armed soldiers to the border" with Mexico since the country wasn't doing enough in "apprehending and returning smugglers at the border".

US president Donald Trump said today that he would be sending "armed soldiers to the border" with Mexico since the country wasn't doing enough in "apprehending and returning smugglers at the border". 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 × "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!," the US president said, adding, "We are now sending armed soldiers to the border." Trump appeared to be referring to an April 13 incident in which Mexican troops reportedly questioned and pointed their weapons at two US troops conducting surveillance on the border. US defence officials had said earlier that two US soldiers were in an unmarked vehicle conducting surveillance on the American side of the border when they were approached by five to six Mexican military personnel. The officials said the Mexican soldiers pointed their weapons at the US troops, removed a soldier's sidearm and returned it to their unmarked vehicle. Although the area was on the US side of the border north of the Rio Grande in Texas, it was south of the border fence. Mexico said on Saturday had expressed “deep concern” about armed groups that intimidate and extort migrants on the border. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico had condemned the United Constitutional Patriots, which patrols the southern US border in New Mexico, as a “fascist militia organization” operating outside the law. The group has posted videos showing members dressed in camouflage and armed with semi-automatic rifles holding groups of migrants, many Central American families seeking asylum until US Border Patrol agents arrive. The small volunteer group says it is helping the Border Patrol deal with a surge in undocumented migrants at the southern border.

Will be sending armed soldiers to Mexico border: Trump

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-vote-on-healthcare-can-wait-until-after-2020-election-207350">President Donald Trump</a> said Tuesday he is "100 per cent" prepared to close down the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-threatens-closure-of-us-mexico-border-next-week-to-stem-asylum-surge-206626">US-Mexico border</a>, warning Congress and Central American governments to take action to stem the flow of migrants into the country.</p>

<p>Delays were already rising at several key border crossings as Trump ratcheted up pressure on Democrats in Congress to toughen US laws against illegal immigrants, threatening to hurt the US economy in the name of border security.</p>

<p>"It is a national emergency on the border," Trump said.</p>

<p>If Mexico does not stop migrants from transiting across its territory, and if Congress does not act, he said, "the border's going to be closed, 100 per cent."</p>

<p>"Sure it's going to have a negative impact on the economy," he said. "Security is more important to me than trade."</p>

<p>Trump said Democrats were blocking reforms for political reasons but could fix the problem "in 45 minutes."</p>

<p>He was not specific, but Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has asked Congress to give border officials the power to forcibly repatriate Central American illegal immigrants, including children who arrived alone, back to their countries.</p>

<p>The threat to close the border, which handled some $612 billion worth of trade in 2018, sent shivers through the economy, and drew warnings from allies of the president.</p>

<p>"Closing down the border would have potentially catastrophic economic impact on our country, and I would hope we would not be doing that sort of thing," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said.</p>

<p>His call was backed by the Chamber of Commerce, which said in a statement that while it backed immigration reform, closing the border "would inflict severe economic harm on American families, workers, farmers and manufacturers across the United States."</p>

<p><strong>100,000 migrants a month&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Homeland Security officials said they were preparing for the possibility of a shutdown of at least some border entry points as they divert staff to deal with the flood of migrants from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, expected to hit nearly 100,000 a month.</p>

<p>Nielsen cut short an official trip to Europe to return for meetings early Tuesday on the border crisis, and on Monday Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said he would be meeting Nielsen and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the crisis.</p>

<p>Officials said facilities for handling the migrants -- who for the moment cannot be sent back after they cross the border and request asylum -- are overtaxed and understaffed, creating hazardous conditions.</p>

<p>"We are in a full-blown emergency. The bottom line is all options are on the table right now," a senior Homeland Security official, who declined to be named, told journalists Tuesday.</p>

<p>"The volume of vulnerable populations that are arriving is unsustainable... The humanitarian situation cannot be ignored and the security situation cannot be ignored."</p>

<p>Trump said Mexican officials had reacted to his threat to close the border last week by clamping down on the caravans of migrants fleeing poverty and violence in the three Central American countries.</p>

<p>Mexico "made a big step over the past two days," he said, adding that they would have to continue if they don't want the border closed.</p>

<p>He also defended his decision to cut off "hundreds of millions of dollars" in US aid to the three countries, accusing them of arranging the caravans of migrants.</p>

<p>The three "don't do anything for us," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Long lines at border ports</strong></p>

<p>On Monday, Nielsen ordered an "emergency surge" of personnel to deal with the situation, including moving 750 staff to areas of the border where the migrants arrive.</p>

<p>Many were being diverted from official ports, leading to slowdowns in processing arriving visitors and commercial vehicles.</p>

<p>Delays for incoming traffic were three hours at Brownsville, Texas, for the second straight day, and more than two hours in other areas.</p>

<p>On the Mexican side, Andres Morales Arreola, head of operations for border crossings in Chihuahua state, said the border between Ciudad Juarez and El Paso had "collapsed" because so many US border officials have been reassigned to deal with the migrant influx.</p>

<p>Long lines have formed at the border since Thursday, with wait times of up to eight hours for those trying to cross.</p>

<p>Ciudad Juarez Mayor Armando Cabada Alvidrez called on the city's bustling manufacturing sector to temporarily cut back shipments to the US in order to reduce the backup.</p>

<p>However, White House chief economist Larry Kudlow said they were working to minimise the economic impact from a closure of the border -- including keeping truck lanes open.</p>

<p>"The question is, can we deal with that and not have any economic damage?" he told CNBC television.</p>

<p>"I think the answer is we can and people are looking at different options, particularly if you can keep those freight lanes, those truck lanes open."</p>


President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is "100 per cent" prepared to close down the US-Mexico border, warning Congress and Central American governments to take action to stem the flow of migrants into the country.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is "100 per cent" prepared to close down the US-Mexico border, warning Congress and Central American governments to take action to stem the flow of migrants into the country. Delays were already rising at several key border crossings as Trump ratcheted up pressure on Democrats in Congress to toughen US laws against illegal immigrants, threatening to hurt the US economy in the name of border security. "It is a national emergency on the border," Trump said. If Mexico does not stop migrants from transiting across its territory, and if Congress does not act, he said, "the border's going to be closed, 100 per cent." "Sure it's going to have a negative impact on the economy," he said. "Security is more important to me than trade." Trump said Democrats were blocking reforms for political reasons but could fix the problem "in 45 minutes." He was not specific, but Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has asked Congress to give border officials the power to forcibly repatriate Central American illegal immigrants, including children who arrived alone, back to their countries. The threat to close the border, which handled some $612 billion worth of trade in 2018, sent shivers through the economy, and drew warnings from allies of the president. "Closing down the border would have potentially catastrophic economic impact on our country, and I would hope we would not be doing that sort of thing," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said. His call was backed by the Chamber of Commerce, which said in a statement that while it backed immigration reform, closing the border "would inflict severe economic harm on American families, workers, farmers and manufacturers across the United States." 100,000 migrants a month Homeland Security officials said they were preparing for the possibility of a shutdown of at least some border entry points as they divert staff to deal with the flood of migrants from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, expected to hit nearly 100,000 a month. Nielsen cut short an official trip to Europe to return for meetings early Tuesday on the border crisis, and on Monday Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said he would be meeting Nielsen and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the crisis. Officials said facilities for handling the migrants -- who for the moment cannot be sent back after they cross the border and request asylum -- are overtaxed and understaffed, creating hazardous conditions. "We are in a full-blown emergency. The bottom line is all options are on the table right now," a senior Homeland Security official, who declined to be named, told journalists Tuesday. "The volume of vulnerable populations that are arriving is unsustainable... The humanitarian situation cannot be ignored and the security situation cannot be ignored." Trump said Mexican officials had reacted to his threat to close the border last week by clamping down on the caravans of migrants fleeing poverty and violence in the three Central American countries. Mexico "made a big step over the past two days," he said, adding that they would have to continue if they don't want the border closed. He also defended his decision to cut off "hundreds of millions of dollars" in US aid to the three countries, accusing them of arranging the caravans of migrants. The three "don't do anything for us," he said. Long lines at border ports On Monday, Nielsen ordered an "emergency surge" of personnel to deal with the situation, including moving 750 staff to areas of the border where the migrants arrive. Many were being diverted from official ports, leading to slowdowns in processing arriving visitors and commercial vehicles. Delays for incoming traffic were three hours at Brownsville, Texas, for the second straight day, and more than two hours in other areas. On the Mexican side, Andres Morales Arreola, head of operations for border crossings in Chihuahua state, said the border between Ciudad Juarez and El Paso had "collapsed" because so many US border officials have been reassigned to deal with the migrant influx. Long lines have formed at the border since Thursday, with wait times of up to eight hours for those trying to cross. Ciudad Juarez Mayor Armando Cabada Alvidrez called on the city's bustling manufacturing sector to temporarily cut back shipments to the US in order to reduce the backup. However, White House chief economist Larry Kudlow said they were working to minimise the economic impact from a closure of the border -- including keeping truck lanes open. "The question is, can we deal with that and not have any economic damage?" he told CNBC television. "I think the answer is we can and people are looking at different options, particularly if you can keep those freight lanes, those truck lanes open."

Trump says '100%' ready to shut down Mexico border

<p>President Donald Trump's administration on Tuesday took a step back from its threat to close the southern US border, saying Mexico had been taking a greater responsibility for dealing with the immigration problem.</p>

<p>White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the Trump administration had seen Mexico "stepping up and taking a greater sense of responsibility" for dealing with the immigration flows that US&nbsp;officials say are overwhelming ports of entry along the border.</p>

<p>"They have started to do a significant amount more. We’ve seen them take a larger number of individuals" and hold those who have asylum claims in Mexico while they are being processed in the United States, Sanders told reporters at the White House.</p>

<p>"We’ve also seen them stop more people from coming across the border so that they aren’t even entering into the United States. So those two things are certainly helpful and we’d like to see them continue," Sanders said.</p>

<p>Trump threatened on Friday to close the border with this week unless Mexico took steps to stop immigrants from reaching the United States illegally. Closing the border with Mexico could potentially disrupt millions of legal border crossings and billions of dollars in trade.</p>

<p>Sanders said the administration was "looking at all options when it comes to closing the different ports of entry, what that looks like and what the impacts would be."</p>

<p>She told Fox News the administration wanted Mexico to continue working to address the issue so "we aren't forced to take drastic action like closing the ports of entry at our border."<br />
&nbsp;</p>


President Donald Trump's administration on Tuesday took a step back from its threat to close the southern US border, saying Mexico had been taking a greater responsibility for dealing with the immigration problem.

President Donald Trump's administration on Tuesday took a step back from its threat to close the southern US border, saying Mexico had been taking a greater responsibility for dealing with the immigration problem. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the Trump administration had seen Mexico "stepping up and taking a greater sense of responsibility" for dealing with the immigration flows that US officials say are overwhelming ports of entry along the border. "They have started to do a significant amount more. We’ve seen them take a larger number of individuals" and hold those who have asylum claims in Mexico while they are being processed in the United States, Sanders told reporters at the White House. "We’ve also seen them stop more people from coming across the border so that they aren’t even entering into the United States. So those two things are certainly helpful and we’d like to see them continue," Sanders said. Trump threatened on Friday to close the border with this week unless Mexico took steps to stop immigrants from reaching the United States illegally. Closing the border with Mexico could potentially disrupt millions of legal border crossings and billions of dollars in trade. Sanders said the administration was "looking at all options when it comes to closing the different ports of entry, what that looks like and what the impacts would be." She told Fox News the administration wanted Mexico to continue working to address the issue so "we aren't forced to take drastic action like closing the ports of entry at our border."

White House backs down after threatening to close border with Mexico

<p>The Pentagon has authorised $1 billion for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/government-will-not-reopen-until-we-have-the-mexican-border-wall-trump-to-us-troops-186467">US President's Donald Trump's wall</a> along the US-Mexico border.&nbsp;The authorisation was made by acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Shanahan "authorized the commander of the US Army Corps of Engineers to begin planning and executing up to $1 billion in support to the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Patrol," a Pentagon statement read.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The statement was released just hours before Shanahan was due to testify in Congress to present and defend the Pentagon's draft budget.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The acting defence secretary defended the move by citing a federal law that he said "gives the Department of Defense the authority to construct roads and fences and to install lighting to block drug-smuggling corridors across international boundaries of the United States in support of counter-narcotic activities of federal law enforcement agencies."</p>

<p>The $1 billion will go towards building 92 kilometres of 18-foot-high fencing, building and improving roads, and installing lighting along sections of the border.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The border wall with Mexico was one of Trump's central campaign promises. He had said then that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-will-pay-for-border-wall-trump-5838">Mexico would pay for the wall</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Trump had in December last year shut down the US government for 35 days — the longest in US history — after the Democrats refused to sign off on a funding bill giving him $5.7 billion for his wall.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In February, Trump declared a national emergency at the border — he said illegal immigration from Mexico was an "invasion" — which would allow the government to route funds meant for emergencies towards building the border wall.&nbsp;Trump is looking to unlock as much as $8 billion via the emergency funding route.</p>

<p>The move drew condemnation from both the president's rival Democrats and fellow Republicans, who warned it was an abuse of presidential powers and created a dangerous precedent.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from AFP)</em></p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


The Pentagon has authorised $1 billion for US President's Donald Trump's wall along the US-Mexico border. The authorisation was made by acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan.

The Pentagon has authorised $1 billion for US President's Donald Trump's wall along the US-Mexico border. The authorisation was made by acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan. Shanahan "authorized the commander of the US Army Corps of Engineers to begin planning and executing up to $1 billion in support to the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Patrol," a Pentagon statement read. The statement was released just hours before Shanahan was due to testify in Congress to present and defend the Pentagon's draft budget. The acting defence secretary defended the move by citing a federal law that he said "gives the Department of Defense the authority to construct roads and fences and to install lighting to block drug-smuggling corridors across international boundaries of the United States in support of counter-narcotic activities of federal law enforcement agencies." The $1 billion will go towards building 92 kilometres of 18-foot-high fencing, building and improving roads, and installing lighting along sections of the border. The border wall with Mexico was one of Trump's central campaign promises. He had said then that Mexico would pay for the wall. Trump had in December last year shut down the US government for 35 days — the longest in US history — after the Democrats refused to sign off on a funding bill giving him $5.7 billion for his wall. In February, Trump declared a national emergency at the border — he said illegal immigration from Mexico was an "invasion" — which would allow the government to route funds meant for emergencies towards building the border wall. Trump is looking to unlock as much as $8 billion via the emergency funding route. The move drew condemnation from both the president's rival Democrats and fellow Republicans, who warned it was an abuse of presidential powers and created a dangerous precedent. (With inputs from AFP)

Pentagon authorises $1 billion for Trump's border wall

<p>A top adviser to Donald Trump said Sunday that the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/donald-trump-declares-national-emergency-to-signs-border-wall-deal-197774">president's emergency declaration</a> could allow "hundreds of miles" of barriers to be built on the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/no-decision-made-on-spending-for-trumps-wall-pentagon-chief-197844">Mexican border </a>before the 2020 election.</p>

<p>"You're looking at hundreds of miles," Stephen Miller said on Fox News Sunday, "probably a couple hundred miles" by September 2020, two months before the election.</p>

<p>Trump has made clear he plans to exploit the issue in his re-election campaign, even amid sharp criticism from Democrats, rights groups, border-state landowners — and several prominent Republicans.</p>

<p>The president on Friday invoked a "national emergency" to justify tapping military and other funds for barrier construction, after Congress approved less than a fourth the $5.7 billion he had sought for border security.</p>

<p>Miller, echoing Trump's arguments, said that an unsecured border allowed drugs and criminals to pour into the country. He dismissed government statistics showing illegal entries had fallen.</p>

<p>"You cannot have uncontrolled, unsecured areas of the border where people can pour in undetected," he said.</p>

<p>But asked to cite an example of a past president invoking an emergency after being denied funds by Congress, Miller could not do so. "If people don't like that, they can address it," he said.</p>

<p><strong>An 'imminent' challenge</strong></p>

<p>Given the near-certainty of legal challenges and of a possible blocking move in Congress, it is far from clear how quickly barrier construction can advance on the 1,950-mile (3,140-kilometer) border.</p>

<p>Xavier Becerra, the attorney general of California, told ABC his state would be filing a lawsuit against the project "definitely, and imminently."</p>

<p>He said California and other states had legal standing in the case because they risked losing moneys intended for military projects, disaster assistance and other purposes. Several states "will be harmed," he said.</p>

<p>Another Democrat, Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, said she thought Congress could pass a resolution to block Trump's action but might not be able to summon the votes to override a likely Trump veto.</p>

<p>Miller stopped just short of predicting a Trump veto, saying simply, "He will protect his national emergency declaration -- guaranteed."</p>

<p>Several Republican senators have decried the emergency declaration, saying it establishes a dangerous precedent and amounts to executive overreach. How they might vote on a resolution is unclear.</p>

<p>But one well-known Republican, former Massachusetts governor William Weld, is even entertaining a 2020 primary challenge to the president.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While his chances would appear slim, he argued Sunday on ABC that Americans cannot afford six more years of a president who "wants to divide the country" and is "reckless" in running up trillion-dollar deficits.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said the emergency declaration was an example of Trump trying to "make himself seem indispensable," then added, "He's not indispensable at all."</p>


A top adviser to Donald Trump said Sunday that the president's emergency declaration could allow "hundreds of miles" of barriers to be built on the Mexican border before the 2020 election.

A top adviser to Donald Trump said Sunday that the president's emergency declaration could allow "hundreds of miles" of barriers to be built on the Mexican border before the 2020 election. "You're looking at hundreds of miles," Stephen Miller said on Fox News Sunday, "probably a couple hundred miles" by September 2020, two months before the election. Trump has made clear he plans to exploit the issue in his re-election campaign, even amid sharp criticism from Democrats, rights groups, border-state landowners — and several prominent Republicans. The president on Friday invoked a "national emergency" to justify tapping military and other funds for barrier construction, after Congress approved less than a fourth the $5.7 billion he had sought for border security. Miller, echoing Trump's arguments, said that an unsecured border allowed drugs and criminals to pour into the country. He dismissed government statistics showing illegal entries had fallen. "You cannot have uncontrolled, unsecured areas of the border where people can pour in undetected," he said. But asked to cite an example of a past president invoking an emergency after being denied funds by Congress, Miller could not do so. "If people don't like that, they can address it," he said. An 'imminent' challenge Given the near-certainty of legal challenges and of a possible blocking move in Congress, it is far from clear how quickly barrier construction can advance on the 1,950-mile (3,140-kilometer) border. Xavier Becerra, the attorney general of California, told ABC his state would be filing a lawsuit against the project "definitely, and imminently." He said California and other states had legal standing in the case because they risked losing moneys intended for military projects, disaster assistance and other purposes. Several states "will be harmed," he said. Another Democrat, Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, said she thought Congress could pass a resolution to block Trump's action but might not be able to summon the votes to override a likely Trump veto. Miller stopped just short of predicting a Trump veto, saying simply, "He will protect his national emergency declaration -- guaranteed." Several Republican senators have decried the emergency declaration, saying it establishes a dangerous precedent and amounts to executive overreach. How they might vote on a resolution is unclear. But one well-known Republican, former Massachusetts governor William Weld, is even entertaining a 2020 primary challenge to the president. While his chances would appear slim, he argued Sunday on ABC that Americans cannot afford six more years of a president who "wants to divide the country" and is "reckless" in running up trillion-dollar deficits. He said the emergency declaration was an example of Trump trying to "make himself seem indispensable," then added, "He's not indispensable at all."

Trump aide Stephen Miller predicts 'hundreds of miles' of border wall before 2020 election

<p>President Donald Trump warned of murderers and gangsters spreading across the country during a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-heads-to-us-mexico-border-to-push-wall-plan-189442">visit to the US-Mexican border </a>Thursday to push his demand for a multi-billion dollar wall.</p>

<p>Trump used the backdrop of the Rio Grande border river at McAllen, Texas, to ramp up what has already turned into a hugely messy political fight with Democratic opponents, resulting in the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-will-skip-davos-meeting-if-us-government-shutdown-continues-189462">shutdown of swaths of the US government</a>.</p>

<p>With typical rhetorical flourishes, Trump said that only building more walls along the Mexican border could stop an onslaught of violent crime.</p>

<p>"They just go where there's no security and you don't even know the difference between Mexico and the United States," he told a meeting of border patrol officers. "They have women tied up, they have tape over their mouths, electrical tape."</p>

<p>"If we had a barrier of any kind, a powerful barrier, whether its steel or concrete..., we would stop it cold," Trump said.</p>

<p>Opposition Democrats are refusing to approve $5.7 billion in wall funding, saying that overwhelming numbers of illegal immigrants do not commit serious crimes and that Trump is mainly promoting the project to satisfy his right-wing base.</p>

<p>Trump said that illegal immigrant crime stretched right up into the north of the country. However, widely respected studies show that illegal immigrants commit fewer crimes than people born in the United States.</p>

<p><strong>Government shutdown goes on</strong></p>

<p>Trump's main way of pressuring Congress has been to refuse to sign off on a host of unrelated, normally uncontroversial, government spending until he gets his wall funded.</p>

<p>That has resulted in a partial government shutdown now in its 20th day, with hundreds of thousands of federal employees -- including air traffic controllers, the FBI and Coast Guard -- going without pay.</p>

<p>Signalling he's ready to maintain the game of brinksmanship, Trump tweeted on arrival in Texas that he will scrap a visit to the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, which runs from January 21-25.</p>

<p>Trump had been expected to make a brief appearance at the influential get-together, attended by many world leaders, but said that opposition Democratic "intransigence" required him to stay home.</p>

<p><strong>National emergency?</strong></p>

<p>Trump said he was ready to expand the debate over funding for a border wall to some of the other issues surrounding the over-burdened US immigration system -- a suggestion that could open the door to working with Democrats.</p>

<p>"I would like to do a much broader form of immigration," he said in Texas.</p>

<p>But throughout the day, the frustrated president also repeated his threat to declare a national emergency and give himself authority to go around Congress if he can't get approval for the wall.</p>

<p>"If I have to, I will. I have no doubt about it."</p>

<p>Analysts say the declaration would likely be challenged in court as a case of presidential overreach, in which case the wall still could face being blocked.</p>

<p>However, it would still give Trump political cover with his base by showing he'd done what he could. At that point, Trump could end the partial government shutdown and declare a win.</p>

<p><strong>White House walkout</strong></p>

<p>Trump, who revels in telling stories about his negotiating skills as a New York real estate magnate, has not managed to get the Democrats to budge on his demand for the $5.7 billion.</p>

<p>On Wednesday, he invited Democratic leaders to the White House but walked out of the meeting.</p>

<p>"A total waste of time," Trump tweeted. "I said bye-bye, nothing else works!"</p>

<p>Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, told journalists Trump "sort of slammed the table," then "got up and walked out."</p>

<p>"Again, we saw a temper tantrum because he couldn't get his way," Schumer said.<br />
Trump disputed that Thursday, saying "I didn't pound the table. That is a lie."</p>

<p>"I don't have temper tantrums," he said.</p>

<p><strong>21 bodies found in Mexico</strong></p>

<p>Few on either side of the debate dispute that the border poses a significant challenge, not least because of ruthless Mexican gangs bringing drugs to the huge US market.</p>

<p>Illustrating the danger, Mexican authorities said Thursday they had found 21 bodies after a gang shootout in Miguel Aleman, a town about 170 miles (270 kilometres) across the border from McAllen, Texas.</p>

<p>However, opponents to Trump say he is hyping the danger posed to Americans -- and the help that more walls would bring -- to stir xenophobia for his own political gains.</p>

<p>Yanira de Hernandez, a 52-year-old Salvadoran migrant who hopes to get to US soil from Mexico, said she simply dreams of a better life in a country built on immigration.</p>

<p>"Everyone has the right to emigrate, to seek a new future. We're not going to commit any crimes. We hope he (Trump) understands that and that God helps him to change, because his ancestors were migrants too," she said in the Mexican border city of Tijuana.</p>


President Donald Trump warned of murderers and gangsters spreading across the country during a visit to the US-Mexican border Thursday to push his demand for a multi-billion dollar wall.

President Donald Trump warned of murderers and gangsters spreading across the country during a visit to the US-Mexican border Thursday to push his demand for a multi-billion dollar wall. Trump used the backdrop of the Rio Grande border river at McAllen, Texas, to ramp up what has already turned into a hugely messy political fight with Democratic opponents, resulting in the shutdown of swaths of the US government. With typical rhetorical flourishes, Trump said that only building more walls along the Mexican border could stop an onslaught of violent crime. "They just go where there's no security and you don't even know the difference between Mexico and the United States," he told a meeting of border patrol officers. "They have women tied up, they have tape over their mouths, electrical tape." "If we had a barrier of any kind, a powerful barrier, whether its steel or concrete..., we would stop it cold," Trump said. Opposition Democrats are refusing to approve $5.7 billion in wall funding, saying that overwhelming numbers of illegal immigrants do not commit serious crimes and that Trump is mainly promoting the project to satisfy his right-wing base. Trump said that illegal immigrant crime stretched right up into the north of the country. However, widely respected studies show that illegal immigrants commit fewer crimes than people born in the United States. Government shutdown goes on Trump's main way of pressuring Congress has been to refuse to sign off on a host of unrelated, normally uncontroversial, government spending until he gets his wall funded. That has resulted in a partial government shutdown now in its 20th day, with hundreds of thousands of federal employees -- including air traffic controllers, the FBI and Coast Guard -- going without pay. Signalling he's ready to maintain the game of brinksmanship, Trump tweeted on arrival in Texas that he will scrap a visit to the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, which runs from January 21-25. Trump had been expected to make a brief appearance at the influential get-together, attended by many world leaders, but said that opposition Democratic "intransigence" required him to stay home. National emergency? Trump said he was ready to expand the debate over funding for a border wall to some of the other issues surrounding the over-burdened US immigration system -- a suggestion that could open the door to working with Democrats. "I would like to do a much broader form of immigration," he said in Texas. But throughout the day, the frustrated president also repeated his threat to declare a national emergency and give himself authority to go around Congress if he can't get approval for the wall. "If I have to, I will. I have no doubt about it." Analysts say the declaration would likely be challenged in court as a case of presidential overreach, in which case the wall still could face being blocked. However, it would still give Trump political cover with his base by showing he'd done what he could. At that point, Trump could end the partial government shutdown and declare a win. White House walkout Trump, who revels in telling stories about his negotiating skills as a New York real estate magnate, has not managed to get the Democrats to budge on his demand for the $5.7 billion. On Wednesday, he invited Democratic leaders to the White House but walked out of the meeting. "A total waste of time," Trump tweeted. "I said bye-bye, nothing else works!" Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, told journalists Trump "sort of slammed the table," then "got up and walked out." "Again, we saw a temper tantrum because he couldn't get his way," Schumer said. Trump disputed that Thursday, saying "I didn't pound the table. That is a lie." "I don't have temper tantrums," he said. 21 bodies found in Mexico Few on either side of the debate dispute that the border poses a significant challenge, not least because of ruthless Mexican gangs bringing drugs to the huge US market. Illustrating the danger, Mexican authorities said Thursday they had found 21 bodies after a gang shootout in Miguel Aleman, a town about 170 miles (270 kilometres) across the border from McAllen, Texas. However, opponents to Trump say he is hyping the danger posed to Americans -- and the help that more walls would bring -- to stir xenophobia for his own political gains. Yanira de Hernandez, a 52-year-old Salvadoran migrant who hopes to get to US soil from Mexico, said she simply dreams of a better life in a country built on immigration. "Everyone has the right to emigrate, to seek a new future. We're not going to commit any crimes. We hope he (Trump) understands that and that God helps him to change, because his ancestors were migrants too," she said in the Mexican border city of Tijuana.

Trump pushes wall plan in US-Mexico border visit

<p>In a direct attack on Donald Trump, the former official photographer of Barack Obama on Sunday posted a picture of the former US President on Instagram with a caption "There once a wall here. It was torn down in 1989.''</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BsTWka_lF4G/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">There once was a wall here. It was torn down in 1989. 😎 #throwshadethenvote</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/petesouza/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Pete Souza</a> (@petesouza) on <time datetime="2019-01-06T18:00:22+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Jan 6, 2019 at 10:00am PST</time></p>
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<p>In his Instagram post the former photographer Pete Souza has compared the Berlin Wall with Trumps's incessant demand for the construction of the US Mexico border wall.</p>

<p>The post which has attracted over seventy thousand likes, shows Obama sitting beside the iconic Brandenberg Gate in Germany where the Berlin Wall once stood.</p>

<p>The Berlin wall which was built in 1961 demarcated East German with the West and prevented free movement between the two sides from 1961 to 1989 before being pulled down in 1992.</p>

<p>The post holds significance as it highlights the current American politics being ruled by "wall".</p>

<p>The United States has entered the third week of a partial government shutdown resulting from the dispute between Trump and Democrats that has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers idled or without paychecks.</p>

<p>The conflict&nbsp;rose after the Democrats declined to approve the $5.6 billion fund that Trump has been demanding for the border wall.</p>

<p>Building a wall along the 2,000-mile (3,200-kilometer) US-Mexico frontier was a central plank in the 2016 election campaign of Trump, who has sought to equate immigrants with crime, drugs and gangs.</p>

<p>He has also threatened to declare a national emergency in the country in case his demands are not accepted.</p>

<p>Trump on Sunday proposed for a steel barrier between Mexico and US instead of concrete as a potential compromise with Democrats.</p>

<p>Thousands of federal workers are without work and paychecks since the US government shutdown. The shutdown has also been a factor in stock market volatility.</p>

<p>This is not the first time when Souza has targetted Trump through his Instagram post.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In his previous post, Souze had posted a picture captioned &nbsp;'a different kind of wall' and has garnered over ninety-nine thousand likes.</p>

<p>Here Obama can be seen painting on a wall with the caption 'wall of hope''</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BsQ0CSvl1m1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">A different kind of wall. 😎 #throwshadethenvote</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/petesouza/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Pete Souza</a> (@petesouza) on <time datetime="2019-01-05T18:20:08+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Jan 5, 2019 at 10:20am PST</time></p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>


In a direct attack on Donald Trump, the former official photographer of Barack Obama on Sunday posted a picture of the former US President on Instagram with a caption "There once a wall here.

In a direct attack on Donald Trump, the former official photographer of Barack Obama on Sunday posted a picture of the former US President on Instagram with a caption "There once a wall here. It was torn down in 1989.'' View this post on Instagram There once was a wall here. It was torn down in 1989. 😎 #throwshadethenvote A post shared by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on Jan 6, 2019 at 10:00am PST × In his Instagram post the former photographer Pete Souza has compared the Berlin Wall with Trumps's incessant demand for the construction of the US Mexico border wall. The post which has attracted over seventy thousand likes, shows Obama sitting beside the iconic Brandenberg Gate in Germany where the Berlin Wall once stood. The Berlin wall which was built in 1961 demarcated East German with the West and prevented free movement between the two sides from 1961 to 1989 before being pulled down in 1992. The post holds significance as it highlights the current American politics being ruled by "wall". The United States has entered the third week of a partial government shutdown resulting from the dispute between Trump and Democrats that has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers idled or without paychecks. The conflict rose after the Democrats declined to approve the $5.6 billion fund that Trump has been demanding for the border wall. Building a wall along the 2,000-mile (3,200-kilometer) US-Mexico frontier was a central plank in the 2016 election campaign of Trump, who has sought to equate immigrants with crime, drugs and gangs. He has also threatened to declare a national emergency in the country in case his demands are not accepted. Trump on Sunday proposed for a steel barrier between Mexico and US instead of concrete as a potential compromise with Democrats. Thousands of federal workers are without work and paychecks since the US government shutdown. The shutdown has also been a factor in stock market volatility. This is not the first time when Souza has targetted Trump through his Instagram post. In his previous post, Souze had posted a picture captioned 'a different kind of wall' and has garnered over ninety-nine thousand likes. Here Obama can be seen painting on a wall with the caption 'wall of hope'' View this post on Instagram A different kind of wall. 😎 #throwshadethenvote A post shared by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on Jan 5, 2019 at 10:20am PST ×

Obama's former photographer trolls Donald Trump over his 'wall' demand

<p>United States President Donald Trump on Saturday once again blamed the Democrats, who obstructed his plans of building a wall in the southern border with Mexico to stop illegal migration, for the death of migrant children crossing into the US.</p>

<p>The US President personally took to Twitter saying, "Any deaths of children or others at the Border are strictly the fault of the Democrats and their pathetic immigration policies that allow people to make the long trek thinking they can enter our country illegally. They can't. If we had a Wall, they wouldn't even try! The two children in question were very sick before they were given over to Border Patrol. The father of the young girl said it was not their fault, he hadn't given her water in days. Border Patrol needs the Wall and it will all end. They are working so hard &amp; getting so little credit!".</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Any deaths of children or others at the Border are strictly the fault of the Democrats and their pathetic immigration policies that allow people to make the long trek thinking they can enter our country illegally. They can’t. If we had a Wall, they wouldn’t even try! The two.....</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1079082188665171971?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">...children in question were very sick before they were given over to Border Patrol. The father of the young girl said it was not their fault, he hadn’t given her water in days. Border Patrol needs the Wall and it will all end. They are working so hard &amp; getting so little credit!</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1079083702943211520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Fox News reported that the US President cited the death of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/second-guatemalan-migrant-child-dies-in-us-custody-186481">two migrant children</a> from Guatemala, namely eight-year-old boy Felipe Gomez Alonzo and a seven-year-old girl <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/father-of-dead-guatemalan-migrant-calls-for-objective-investigation-into-death-184403">Jakelin Caal </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/father-of-dead-guatemalan-migrant-calls-for-objective-investigation-into-death-184403">Maquin</a>, who lost their lives earlier this month while being in the custody of the Border Police.</p>

<p>Both the children fell sick due to lack of proper food and medical facilities while crossing the border.</p>

<p>The US President further said on Twitter that the father of the Guatemalan boy had said that it was not the fault of the Border Police.</p>

<p>The US President Donald Trump had pushed for a border wall with Mexico despite a partial <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-refuses-to-sign-us-government-shutdown-legislation-over-mexico-wall-funding-185571">government shutdown in the country</a> which may continue till 2019.</p>

<p>The shutdown was triggered by a lack of consensus between lawmakers and the US President on the funding for the wall which was one of Trump's electoral promises.</p>

<p>Trump said, "For those that naively ask why didn't the Republicans get approval to build the Wall over the last year, it is because IN THE SENATE WE NEED 10 DEMOCRAT VOTES, and they will gives us "NONE" for Border Security! Now we have to do it the hard way, with a Shutdown. Too bad! @FoxNews".&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">For those that naively ask why didn’t the Republicans get approval to build the Wall over the last year, it is because IN THE SENATE WE NEED 10 DEMOCRAT VOTES, and they will gives us “NONE” for Border Security! Now we have to do it the hard way, with a Shutdown. Too bad! <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FoxNews</a></p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1079096156708319232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
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United States President Donald Trump on Saturday once again blamed the Democrats, who obstructed his plans of building a wall in the southern border with Mexico to stop illegal migration, for the death of migrant children crossing into the US.

United States President Donald Trump on Saturday once again blamed the Democrats, who obstructed his plans of building a wall in the southern border with Mexico to stop illegal migration, for the death of migrant children crossing into the US. The US President personally took to Twitter saying, "Any deaths of children or others at the Border are strictly the fault of the Democrats and their pathetic immigration policies that allow people to make the long trek thinking they can enter our country illegally. They can't. If we had a Wall, they wouldn't even try! The two children in question were very sick before they were given over to Border Patrol. The father of the young girl said it was not their fault, he hadn't given her water in days. Border Patrol needs the Wall and it will all end. They are working so hard & getting so little credit!". Any deaths of children or others at the Border are strictly the fault of the Democrats and their pathetic immigration policies that allow people to make the long trek thinking they can enter our country illegally. They can’t. If we had a Wall, they wouldn’t even try! The two..... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 29, 2018 × ...children in question were very sick before they were given over to Border Patrol. The father of the young girl said it was not their fault, he hadn’t given her water in days. Border Patrol needs the Wall and it will all end. They are working so hard & getting so little credit! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 29, 2018 × Fox News reported that the US President cited the death of two migrant children from Guatemala, namely eight-year-old boy Felipe Gomez Alonzo and a seven-year-old girl Jakelin Caal Maquin, who lost their lives earlier this month while being in the custody of the Border Police. Both the children fell sick due to lack of proper food and medical facilities while crossing the border. The US President further said on Twitter that the father of the Guatemalan boy had said that it was not the fault of the Border Police. The US President Donald Trump had pushed for a border wall with Mexico despite a partial government shutdown in the country which may continue till 2019. The shutdown was triggered by a lack of consensus between lawmakers and the US President on the funding for the wall which was one of Trump's electoral promises. Trump said, "For those that naively ask why didn't the Republicans get approval to build the Wall over the last year, it is because IN THE SENATE WE NEED 10 DEMOCRAT VOTES, and they will gives us "NONE" for Border Security! Now we have to do it the hard way, with a Shutdown. Too bad! @FoxNews". For those that naively ask why didn’t the Republicans get approval to build the Wall over the last year, it is because IN THE SENATE WE NEED 10 DEMOCRAT VOTES, and they will gives us “NONE” for Border Security! Now we have to do it the hard way, with a Shutdown. Too bad! @FoxNews — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 29, 2018 ×

Trump blames Democrats for deaths of children at the border

<p>US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States could send as many as 15,000 troops to the border with Mexico, as he hardens his stance against a caravan of migrants fleeing violence and poverty in Central America.</p>

<p>The numbers cited by Trump are significantly higher than defence officials have disclosed. The Pentagon said on Monday it was deploying more than 5,200 troops to the border but that the number would rise. On Wednesday, it said more than 7,000 troops would support the Department of Homeland Security along the border.</p>

<p>Several groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, have accused Trump of politicizing the military ahead of next week's congressional elections with his plans to use active military personnel to buttress border patrol efforts.</p>

<p>"As far as the caravan is concerned, our military is out ... We'll go up to anywhere between 10 and 15,000 military personnel, on top of Border Patrol, ICE and everybody else at the border," Trump told reporters at the White House.</p>

<p>Trump did not say how many of those 15,000 would be National Guard. There are already 2,100 US National Guard forces at the border, sent after a previous Trump request in April, and they are authorized to go up to 4,000.</p>

<p>If 15,000 troops were drawn into the effort, it would mean there would be more US troops on the border with Mexico than there are in Afghanistan, which has become America's longest conflict.</p>

<p>Trump has sought to use immigration as an issue to motivate Republican voters ahead of the November 6 elections, where Republicans will seek to maintain control of both congressional chambers.</p>

<p>As a presidential candidate before the US election in 2016, Trump promised to harden immigration laws and build a wall along the southern border with Mexico, but implementation of his signature campaign promise has been slow.</p>

<p>A caravan of Central American migrants estimated to number at least 3,500 people left Honduras in mid-October and is now in southern Mexico on its way to the US border.</p>

<p><strong>"We don't do stunts"</strong></p>

<p>Before Trump's comments, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Wednesday rejected criticism that deploying thousands of troops to the border with Mexico was a political stunt.</p>

<p>"The support that we provide to the secretary for homeland security is practical support based on the request from the commissioner of customs and border police, so we don't do stunts in this department," Mattis said after a meeting with his South Korean counterpart at the Pentagon.</p>

<p>Republican lawmakers and other Trump supporters have applauded the deployment. But critics argue Trump has manufactured a crisis to drive Republican voters to the polls.</p>

<p>"The move to send 5,200 active duty troops to the southern border is a craven political stunt that sets a bad precedent and is arguably an abuse of power," said Kelly Magsamen, a former senior Pentagon official who is currently with the Center for American Progress left-leaning think tank.</p>

<p>Trump's decision to call in the military appears to be a departure from past practice. In recent years, such operations have been carried out by National Guard forces, largely part-time military members often called upon to respond to domestic emergencies.</p>

<p>A U.S. official told Reuters that as of Wednesday the Pentagon had identified more than 7,000 active-duty troops, which included about 2,000 on standby, that could be deployed to the border with Mexico if needed.</p>

<p>Many basic questions remained unanswered days after the Pentagon announcement, including the scope of the mission as well as the Pentagon's assessment of any threat posed by arriving migrants.</p>


US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States could send as many as 15,000 troops to the border with Mexico, as he hardens his stance against a caravan of migrants fleeing violence and poverty in Central America.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States could send as many as 15,000 troops to the border with Mexico, as he hardens his stance against a caravan of migrants fleeing violence and poverty in Central America. The numbers cited by Trump are significantly higher than defence officials have disclosed. The Pentagon said on Monday it was deploying more than 5,200 troops to the border but that the number would rise. On Wednesday, it said more than 7,000 troops would support the Department of Homeland Security along the border. Several groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, have accused Trump of politicizing the military ahead of next week's congressional elections with his plans to use active military personnel to buttress border patrol efforts. "As far as the caravan is concerned, our military is out ... We'll go up to anywhere between 10 and 15,000 military personnel, on top of Border Patrol, ICE and everybody else at the border," Trump told reporters at the White House. Trump did not say how many of those 15,000 would be National Guard. There are already 2,100 US National Guard forces at the border, sent after a previous Trump request in April, and they are authorized to go up to 4,000. If 15,000 troops were drawn into the effort, it would mean there would be more US troops on the border with Mexico than there are in Afghanistan, which has become America's longest conflict. Trump has sought to use immigration as an issue to motivate Republican voters ahead of the November 6 elections, where Republicans will seek to maintain control of both congressional chambers. As a presidential candidate before the US election in 2016, Trump promised to harden immigration laws and build a wall along the southern border with Mexico, but implementation of his signature campaign promise has been slow. A caravan of Central American migrants estimated to number at least 3,500 people left Honduras in mid-October and is now in southern Mexico on its way to the US border. "We don't do stunts" Before Trump's comments, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Wednesday rejected criticism that deploying thousands of troops to the border with Mexico was a political stunt. "The support that we provide to the secretary for homeland security is practical support based on the request from the commissioner of customs and border police, so we don't do stunts in this department," Mattis said after a meeting with his South Korean counterpart at the Pentagon. Republican lawmakers and other Trump supporters have applauded the deployment. But critics argue Trump has manufactured a crisis to drive Republican voters to the polls. "The move to send 5,200 active duty troops to the southern border is a craven political stunt that sets a bad precedent and is arguably an abuse of power," said Kelly Magsamen, a former senior Pentagon official who is currently with the Center for American Progress left-leaning think tank. Trump's decision to call in the military appears to be a departure from past practice. In recent years, such operations have been carried out by National Guard forces, largely part-time military members often called upon to respond to domestic emergencies. A U.S. official told Reuters that as of Wednesday the Pentagon had identified more than 7,000 active-duty troops, which included about 2,000 on standby, that could be deployed to the border with Mexico if needed. Many basic questions remained unanswered days after the Pentagon announcement, including the scope of the mission as well as the Pentagon's assessment of any threat posed by arriving migrants.

Trump hardens stance on Mexico border, says 15,000 troops could be sent

<p>The United States said on Monday it will send over 5,200 troops to help secure the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/many-gang-members-in-caravan-headed-to-sourthern-border-it-is-an-invasion-and-our-military-is-waiting-trump-174273">border with Mexico</a>, a far larger-than-expected deployment as President Donald Trump hardens his stance on immigration ahead of November 6 mid-term elections.</p>

<p>The deployment will create an active-duty force comparable in size to the US military contingent in Iraq, as Trump's administration draws attention to a caravan of migrants that is trekking through Mexico toward the United States.</p>

<p>General Terrence O'Shaughnessy, the head of US Northern Command, said 800 US troops were already en route to the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-honors-migrants-at-day-of-the-dead-as-caravan-treks-north-173978">Texas border</a> and more were headed to the borders in California and Arizona.</p>

<p>"The president has made it clear that border security is national security," O'Shaughnessy said, as he detailed a much larger deployment than the 800 to 1,000 troops predicted by US officials last week.</p>

<p>O'Shaughnessy said some soldiers would be armed although it was unclear who, beyond US military police, might need those weapons. US officials have stressed that the troops would not police the border and instead carry out support roles like building tents and barricades, and flying US customs personnel to locations along the border.</p>

<p>Trump railed against illegal immigration to win the 2016 US presidential election and has seized on the caravan of Central American migrants at campaign rallies in the run-up to next week's vote, firing up support for his Republican Party.</p>

<p>Trump said the United States would build "tent cities" to house migrants seeking asylum, rather than releasing them while they await court decisions.</p>

<p>"We’re going to put tents up all over the place. We’re not going to build structures and spend all of this, you know, hundreds of millions of dollars - we’re going to have tents," he told Fox News in an interview.</p>

<p>Trump said detaining asylum seekers while their cases are being decided would discourage others from following suit.</p>

<p>If the Republicans lose control of the House of Representatives or the Senate, it could become much harder for Trump to pursue his policy agenda in his remaining two years in office.</p>

<p>According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in late September and early October, 75 per cent of Republican voters said illegal immigration is a very big problem, compared with 19 per cent of Democratic voters.</p>

<p>Although Trump's supporters in Congress praised the deployment of troops, the American Civil Liberties Union derided it as a political stunt.</p>

<p>"President Trump has chosen just before midterm elections to force the military into furthering his anti-immigrant agenda of fear and division," said Shaw Drake, policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union Border Rights Center in El Paso, Texas.</p>

<p>Trump said on Twitter on Monday that the military would be waiting for the procession -- suggesting a far more direct role in confronting the migrants than the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/pentagon-could-send-thousands-more-troops-to-us-mexico-border-official-174261"> Pentagon</a> described.</p>

<p>"Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border," Trump tweeted.</p>

<p>"Please go back, you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process. This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!" he added.</p>

<p>Trump administration officials have been discussing other options to address the caravan and a surge in border crossings, including having Trump use his authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to declare certain migrants ineligible for asylum for national security reasons.</p>

<p>Officials said no decisions had been made.</p>

<p>Kevin McAleenan, the US&nbsp;commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, said a group of approximately 3,500 immigrants were traveling through southern Mexico with the intent of reaching the US border. A second caravan of about 3,000 people were at the Guatemala-Mexico border, McAleenan said.</p>

<p>At the same time, over the last three weeks, border agents have encountered nearly 1,900 people per day either crossing the border illegally or presenting themselves at ports of entry, with over half of them being children alone or parents and children traveling together, McAleenan said.</p>

<p>"We are already facing a border security and humanitarian crisis at our southwest border," he said.</p>

<p>Some migrants have abandoned the journey, deterred by the hardships or the possibility instead of making a new life in Mexico. Others joined it in southern Mexico.</p>

<p>Trump's decision to call in the military appears to be a departure from past practice, at least in recent years, in which such operations were carried out by National Guard forces -- largely part-time military members who are often called upon to serve in response to domestic emergencies.</p>

<p>There are already 2,100 US National Guard forces at the border, sent after a previous Trump request in April. The latest deployment would be in addition to those forces.</p>

<p>The decision to send active duty forces this time gives the Pentagon the ability to more rapidly mobilize greater capability than would be immediately available with the Guard, officials told Reuters.</p>

<p>But it also injects the military, which prides itself in being non-partisan, into a highly charged political issue just days ahead of an election.</p>


The United States said on Monday it will send over 5,200 troops to help secure the border with Mexico, a far larger-than-expected deployment as President Donald Trump hardens his stance on immigration ahead of November 6 mid-term elections.

The United States said on Monday it will send over 5,200 troops to help secure the border with Mexico, a far larger-than-expected deployment as President Donald Trump hardens his stance on immigration ahead of November 6 mid-term elections. The deployment will create an active-duty force comparable in size to the US military contingent in Iraq, as Trump's administration draws attention to a caravan of migrants that is trekking through Mexico toward the United States. General Terrence O'Shaughnessy, the head of US Northern Command, said 800 US troops were already en route to the Texas border and more were headed to the borders in California and Arizona. "The president has made it clear that border security is national security," O'Shaughnessy said, as he detailed a much larger deployment than the 800 to 1,000 troops predicted by US officials last week. O'Shaughnessy said some soldiers would be armed although it was unclear who, beyond US military police, might need those weapons. US officials have stressed that the troops would not police the border and instead carry out support roles like building tents and barricades, and flying US customs personnel to locations along the border. Trump railed against illegal immigration to win the 2016 US presidential election and has seized on the caravan of Central American migrants at campaign rallies in the run-up to next week's vote, firing up support for his Republican Party. Trump said the United States would build "tent cities" to house migrants seeking asylum, rather than releasing them while they await court decisions. "We’re going to put tents up all over the place. We’re not going to build structures and spend all of this, you know, hundreds of millions of dollars - we’re going to have tents," he told Fox News in an interview. Trump said detaining asylum seekers while their cases are being decided would discourage others from following suit. If the Republicans lose control of the House of Representatives or the Senate, it could become much harder for Trump to pursue his policy agenda in his remaining two years in office. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in late September and early October, 75 per cent of Republican voters said illegal immigration is a very big problem, compared with 19 per cent of Democratic voters. Although Trump's supporters in Congress praised the deployment of troops, the American Civil Liberties Union derided it as a political stunt. "President Trump has chosen just before midterm elections to force the military into furthering his anti-immigrant agenda of fear and division," said Shaw Drake, policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union Border Rights Center in El Paso, Texas. Trump said on Twitter on Monday that the military would be waiting for the procession -- suggesting a far more direct role in confronting the migrants than the Pentagon described. "Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border," Trump tweeted. "Please go back, you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process. This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!" he added. Trump administration officials have been discussing other options to address the caravan and a surge in border crossings, including having Trump use his authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to declare certain migrants ineligible for asylum for national security reasons. Officials said no decisions had been made. Kevin McAleenan, the US commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, said a group of approximately 3,500 immigrants were traveling through southern Mexico with the intent of reaching the US border. A second caravan of about 3,000 people were at the Guatemala-Mexico border, McAleenan said. At the same time, over the last three weeks, border agents have encountered nearly 1,900 people per day either crossing the border illegally or presenting themselves at ports of entry, with over half of them being children alone or parents and children traveling together, McAleenan said. "We are already facing a border security and humanitarian crisis at our southwest border," he said. Some migrants have abandoned the journey, deterred by the hardships or the possibility instead of making a new life in Mexico. Others joined it in southern Mexico. Trump's decision to call in the military appears to be a departure from past practice, at least in recent years, in which such operations were carried out by National Guard forces -- largely part-time military members who are often called upon to serve in response to domestic emergencies. There are already 2,100 US National Guard forces at the border, sent after a previous Trump request in April. The latest deployment would be in addition to those forces. The decision to send active duty forces this time gives the Pentagon the ability to more rapidly mobilize greater capability than would be immediately available with the Guard, officials told Reuters. But it also injects the military, which prides itself in being non-partisan, into a highly charged political issue just days ahead of an election.

President Trump has made it clear border security is national security: US northern command chief

Migrants form Human Chains to cross river at Guatemala and Mexico border

Violent clashes at Guatemala-Mexico Border

<p>Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Friday approved a request to send troops and military assistance to the US-Mexico border -- part of President Donald Trump's effort <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/honduran-migrant-caravan-crosses-into-mexico-marches-on-towards-us-172677">to slow illegal crossings</a> in the run-up to key elections.</p>

<p>A Pentagon statement said the support would come in the form of logistical and engineering assistance, including the construction of "temporary barriers, barricades and fencing."</p>

<p>The Pentagon did not provide details on how many troops would be sent, but US officials on Thursday told AFP that about 800 service members would be deployed to the frontier.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"After receiving a request for assistance from the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Defense has approved providing mission-enhancing capabilities to Department of Homeland Security, US Customs and Border Protection along the Southwest Border," the Pentagon statement read.</p>

<p>The troops would augment the 2,100 or so National Guardsmen who were deployed in April to support border operations, and could come from multiple military bases around the US.</p>

<p>Other help would include aviation support to ferry border agents around and medical to teams to "triage, treat and prepare for commercial transport of patients," the statement read.</p>

<p>The military beef-up of the border comes as thousands of Central American migrants are crossing Mexico toward the United States in a slow-moving caravan.</p>

<p>The issue has become a rallying cry for Trump, who has taken a hard line on illegal immigration and has repeatedly kept the story in the headlines in the run up to America's midterm congressional elections that could see the Democrats regain some degree of power.</p>


Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Friday approved a request to send troops and military assistance to the US-Mexico border -- part of President Donald Trump's effort to slow illegal crossings in the run-up to key elections.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Friday approved a request to send troops and military assistance to the US-Mexico border -- part of President Donald Trump's effort to slow illegal crossings in the run-up to key elections. A Pentagon statement said the support would come in the form of logistical and engineering assistance, including the construction of "temporary barriers, barricades and fencing." The Pentagon did not provide details on how many troops would be sent, but US officials on Thursday told AFP that about 800 service members would be deployed to the frontier. "After receiving a request for assistance from the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Defense has approved providing mission-enhancing capabilities to Department of Homeland Security, US Customs and Border Protection along the Southwest Border," the Pentagon statement read. The troops would augment the 2,100 or so National Guardsmen who were deployed in April to support border operations, and could come from multiple military bases around the US. Other help would include aviation support to ferry border agents around and medical to teams to "triage, treat and prepare for commercial transport of patients," the statement read. The military beef-up of the border comes as thousands of Central American migrants are crossing Mexico toward the United States in a slow-moving caravan. The issue has become a rallying cry for Trump, who has taken a hard line on illegal immigration and has repeatedly kept the story in the headlines in the run up to America's midterm congressional elections that could see the Democrats regain some degree of power.

US Defence Secretary Mattis approves request to send army to Mexico border

<p>The US states of Texas and Arizona on Friday announced plans to send National Guard troops to the southern border with Mexico after President Donald Trump ordered a thousands-strong deployment to combat drug trafficking and illegal immigration.</p>

<p>The Texas National Guard said it would send 250 troops to the border within 72 hours and had already deployed two Lakota helicopters, while Arizona's governor said he would send 150 personnel next week.</p>

<p>"The Texas national guard is preparing to immediately deploy with supporting aircraft, vehicles and equipment to the Texas-Mexico border," Brigadier General Tracy Norris, the commanding general of the Texas National Guard, told reporters at a briefing.</p>

<p>"This deployment has begun with the movement of equipment and troops today. Within 72 hours the Texas military department will have 250 personnel along with ground surveillance vehicles as well as light and medium aviation platforms," she added.</p>

<p>Arizona Governor Doug Ducey announced his plans in a tweet.</p>

<p>Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis signed an order for "up to 4,000 National Guard personnel to support DHS's southern border security mission while under the command and control of their respective governors through September 30, 2018," according to a Department of Defense memo.</p>

<p>The memo set out that troops would not carry out law enforcement activities without the defense secretary's approval and would be armed only in "circumstances that might require self-defense."</p>

<p>Mattis and homeland security secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said the decision came after their departments "identified security vulnerabilities that could be addressed by the National Guard."&nbsp</p>

<p>"Together, the Departments of Homeland Security and Defense are committed to using every lever of power to support the men and women of law enforcement defending our nation's sovereignty and protecting the American people," they said in a joint statement.</p>

<p>"We will continue to work with the governors to deploy the necessary resources until our nation's borders are secure."</p>

<p>Trump had said on Thursday that the final deployment would range from 2,000 to 4,000 troops, and he would "probably" keep many personnel on the border until his promised border wall is built -- spelling out a lengthy mission.</p>

<p>The move has heightened tensions with Mexico, whose President Enrique Pena Nieto said Trump's "threatening or disrespectful attitudes" were unjustified.</p>

<p>It has also raised questions about who will fund the mission.</p>

<p>The Pentagon could not say where the money would come from and Trump admitted the White House was still "looking at" costs.</p>

<p>If 4,000 troops were deployed, that would be about double the current US military presence in Syria and about half as many as the number of US troops in Iraq.</p>

<p>The National Guard has previously been deployed to help patrol the southern border, including in 2010 under former president Barack Obama, and from 2006-2008 under George W. Bush. Both deployments were limited to around a year.</p>


The Texas National Guard said it would send 250 troops to the border within 72 hours and had already deployed two Lakota helicopters, while Arizona's governor said he would send 150 personnel next week

The US states of Texas and Arizona on Friday announced plans to send National Guard troops to the southern border with Mexico after President Donald Trump ordered a thousands-strong deployment to combat drug trafficking and illegal immigration. The Texas National Guard said it would send 250 troops to the border within 72 hours and had already deployed two Lakota helicopters, while Arizona's governor said he would send 150 personnel next week. "The Texas national guard is preparing to immediately deploy with supporting aircraft, vehicles and equipment to the Texas-Mexico border," Brigadier General Tracy Norris, the commanding general of the Texas National Guard, told reporters at a briefing. "This deployment has begun with the movement of equipment and troops today. Within 72 hours the Texas military department will have 250 personnel along with ground surveillance vehicles as well as light and medium aviation platforms," she added. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey announced his plans in a tweet. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis signed an order for "up to 4,000 National Guard personnel to support DHS's southern border security mission while under the command and control of their respective governors through September 30, 2018," according to a Department of Defense memo. The memo set out that troops would not carry out law enforcement activities without the defense secretary's approval and would be armed only in "circumstances that might require self-defense." Mattis and homeland security secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said the decision came after their departments "identified security vulnerabilities that could be addressed by the National Guard." "Together, the Departments of Homeland Security and Defense are committed to using every lever of power to support the men and women of law enforcement defending our nation's sovereignty and protecting the American people," they said in a joint statement. "We will continue to work with the governors to deploy the necessary resources until our nation's borders are secure." Trump had said on Thursday that the final deployment would range from 2,000 to 4,000 troops, and he would "probably" keep many personnel on the border until his promised border wall is built -- spelling out a lengthy mission. The move has heightened tensions with Mexico, whose President Enrique Pena Nieto said Trump's "threatening or disrespectful attitudes" were unjustified. It has also raised questions about who will fund the mission. The Pentagon could not say where the money would come from and Trump admitted the White House was still "looking at" costs. If 4,000 troops were deployed, that would be about double the current US military presence in Syria and about half as many as the number of US troops in Iraq. The National Guard has previously been deployed to help patrol the southern border, including in 2010 under former president Barack Obama, and from 2006-2008 under George W. Bush. Both deployments were limited to around a year.

Texas, Arizona announce troop deployments to Mexico border

<p>With just a plastic bag of belongings in his hand, a Mexican man who was deported from the United States Tuesday promptly killed himself, jumping off a bridge in view of the US border.</p>

<p>Sinaloa state native Guadalupe Olivas Valencia, 44, threw himself to his death, authorities said. He had jumped 30 metres (100 feet).</p>

<p>Witnesses said the man was in great distress after being sent back to Mexico for a third time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The tragedy comes as US President Donald Trump has pledged to deport millions of undocumented migrants living in the United States.</p>

<p>Trump has called Mexican migrants criminals and pledged to build a massive border wall.</p>

<p>(Reuters)</p>


Sinaloa state native Guadalupe Olivas Valencia, 44, threw himself 100 feet to his death, authorities said

With just a plastic bag of belongings in his hand, a Mexican man who was deported from the United States Tuesday promptly killed himself, jumping off a bridge in view of the US border. Sinaloa state native Guadalupe Olivas Valencia, 44, threw himself to his death, authorities said. He had jumped 30 metres (100 feet). Witnesses said the man was in great distress after being sent back to Mexico for a third time. The tragedy comes as US President Donald Trump has pledged to deport millions of undocumented migrants living in the United States. Trump has called Mexican migrants criminals and pledged to build a massive border wall. (Reuters)

Mexican migrant kills self after third deportation from US

<p>In an interview with CBS&#39;s 60 Minutes, US President-elect Donald Trump said he was &quot;saddened&quot; by reports of a surge in the the harassment of minorities since his election and told his supporters to &quot;stop it&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;If it helps. I will say this, and I will say right to the cameras: Stop it,&quot; he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But he did also criticise the protests, saying he had seen only &quot;a very small amount&quot; of racial slurs aimed at minorities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;I think it&#39;s built up by the press,&quot; he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;I&#39;m going to bring this country together,&quot; he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The interview was his first since being elected President.</p>

<p><strong>Fine with same-sex marriage</strong></p>

<p>When asked if he would try and revoke same-sex marriage, Trump said, &quot;It&#39;s law. It was settled in the Supreme Court. I mean it&#39;s done.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;And I&#39;m, I&#39;m fine with that,&quot; he added.</p>

<p>Trump told Americans protesting against him not to be afraid of his presidency.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Don&#39;t be afraid. We are going to bring our country back,&quot; he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the same time he reassured loyalists with pro-gun and anti-abortion views, saying judges nominated to the Supreme Court under his watch would hold similar views.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And finally, he said he would adhere to his promise made during campaigning that he would not take the $400,000 the US President earns.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;I&#39;m not going to take the salary. I&#39;m not taking it.&quot; He later added, &quot;I think I have to by law take $1, so I&#39;ll take $1 a year.&quot;</p>

<p>(WION with inputs from agencies)</p>


He also criticised the protests against him, and said he had seen only 'a very small amount' of racial slurs aimed at minorities

In an interview with CBS's 60 Minutes, US President-elect Donald Trump said he was "saddened" by reports of a surge in the the harassment of minorities since his election and told his supporters to "stop it". "If it helps. I will say this, and I will say right to the cameras: Stop it," he said. But he did also criticise the protests, saying he had seen only "a very small amount" of racial slurs aimed at minorities. "I think it's built up by the press," he said. "I'm going to bring this country together," he added. The interview was his first since being elected President. Fine with same-sex marriage When asked if he would try and revoke same-sex marriage, Trump said, "It's law. It was settled in the Supreme Court. I mean it's done." "And I'm, I'm fine with that," he added. Trump told Americans protesting against him not to be afraid of his presidency. "Don't be afraid. We are going to bring our country back," he said. At the same time he reassured loyalists with pro-gun and anti-abortion views, saying judges nominated to the Supreme Court under his watch would hold similar views. And finally, he said he would adhere to his promise made during campaigning that he would not take the $400,000 the US President earns. "I'm not going to take the salary. I'm not taking it." He later added, "I think I have to by law take $1, so I'll take $1 a year." (WION with inputs from agencies)

Trump to supporters harassing minorities: 'Stop it'

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