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| Jim Mattis defends deployment of US troops to Mexico border | Jim Mattis defends deployment of US troops to Mexico border |
| (17 days later) | |
| US defense secretary Jim Mattis has defended the deployment of thousands of troops to the border, despite persistent condemnation of the move which critics have described as a political stunt. | US defense secretary Jim Mattis has defended the deployment of thousands of troops to the border, despite persistent condemnation of the move which critics have described as a political stunt. |
| US toughens border as first members of migrant caravan reach Tijuana | |
| Donald Trump’s decision to send US troops to the Mexico border came ahead of US midterm congressional elections last week, and critics dismissed the move as a political stunt to drive Republican voters to the polls. | Donald Trump’s decision to send US troops to the Mexico border came ahead of US midterm congressional elections last week, and critics dismissed the move as a political stunt to drive Republican voters to the polls. |
| But Mattis rejected criticism, saying the mission was justified and “absolutely legal”. | But Mattis rejected criticism, saying the mission was justified and “absolutely legal”. |
| “It’s very clear that support to border police or border patrol is necessary right now,” said Mattis, standing alongside the secretary of homeland security, Kirstjen Nielsen. | “It’s very clear that support to border police or border patrol is necessary right now,” said Mattis, standing alongside the secretary of homeland security, Kirstjen Nielsen. |
| “We determined that the mission was absolutely legal and this was also reviewed by Department of Justice lawyers. It’s obviously a moral and ethical mission to support our border patrolmen,” Mattis said. | “We determined that the mission was absolutely legal and this was also reviewed by Department of Justice lawyers. It’s obviously a moral and ethical mission to support our border patrolmen,” Mattis said. |
| The visit took Mattis near the Texas town of Donna, where US troops have set up a base camp near a border crossing point with Mexico. | The visit took Mattis near the Texas town of Donna, where US troops have set up a base camp near a border crossing point with Mexico. |
| Most members of the first migrant caravan are heading towards Tijuana, some 1,200 miles to the north-west of Donna. The first group arrived at the border on Tuesday. | Most members of the first migrant caravan are heading towards Tijuana, some 1,200 miles to the north-west of Donna. The first group arrived at the border on Tuesday. |
| Mattis said soldiers were making rapid progress erecting barriers along the border. | Mattis said soldiers were making rapid progress erecting barriers along the border. |
| Mattis said the US military was also rehearsing helicopter operations to help support US border personnel, potentially flying them to new locations if the caravans of migrants shift direction. | Mattis said the US military was also rehearsing helicopter operations to help support US border personnel, potentially flying them to new locations if the caravans of migrants shift direction. |
| The deployed US troops are not expected to directly interact with migrants, most are unarmed, and they are only assigned tasks that support US border personnel, including building temporary lodging. | The deployed US troops are not expected to directly interact with migrants, most are unarmed, and they are only assigned tasks that support US border personnel, including building temporary lodging. |
| Trump’s Democratic opponents have threatened to investigate the matter once they take control of the House of Representatives early next year after gaining a majority in the House in the midterm elections. | Trump’s Democratic opponents have threatened to investigate the matter once they take control of the House of Representatives early next year after gaining a majority in the House in the midterm elections. |
| Representative Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the House Committee on Homeland Security, told Reuters that Trump had used the military “as a prop to stoke fear and score political points”. | Representative Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the House Committee on Homeland Security, told Reuters that Trump had used the military “as a prop to stoke fear and score political points”. |
| “We will soon be finally able to conduct oversight of this gross abuse and the president’s many failed border security policies,” said Thompson, who is expected to lead the committee when the Democrats take control of the House. | “We will soon be finally able to conduct oversight of this gross abuse and the president’s many failed border security policies,” said Thompson, who is expected to lead the committee when the Democrats take control of the House. |
| Mattis estimated about 5,900 troops were participating in the border mission. The US military has offered a breakdown accounting for 5,600 of them, estimating about 2,800 troops in Texas, 1,500 in Arizona and another 1,300 in California. | Mattis estimated about 5,900 troops were participating in the border mission. The US military has offered a breakdown accounting for 5,600 of them, estimating about 2,800 troops in Texas, 1,500 in Arizona and another 1,300 in California. |
| Asked whether troops’ families should expect their loved ones to remain deployed through Thanksgiving or even Christmas, Mattis declined to speculate. | Asked whether troops’ families should expect their loved ones to remain deployed through Thanksgiving or even Christmas, Mattis declined to speculate. |
| “We are a 365-day-a-year military. Rain or shine. Light or dark. Cold weather or hot weather,” he said. He declined to estimate the cost of the deployment. | “We are a 365-day-a-year military. Rain or shine. Light or dark. Cold weather or hot weather,” he said. He declined to estimate the cost of the deployment. |
| This article includes material from Reuters | This article includes material from Reuters |
| US military | US military |
| US-Mexico border | US-Mexico border |
| US national security | US national security |
| news | news |
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