Trump sends 5,200 troops backed 150 miles of razor wire and Blackhawks, drones and C-130s in the air to the Mexican border to ‘deter’ caravan from ever arriving – as agents rehearse for riots in El Paso
President Donald Trump has called for the troops to deter what he calls an ‘invasion’
The president claimed the caravan contained ‘many Gang Members’ and ‘some very bad people’
Last week he said it included ‘Middle Easterners’ but admitted he had no proof of his claim
Three helicopter companies and three engineering battalions to participate
Enhanced optics, fencing, ‘hardening’ of the border
The caravan is making its way through Mexico, though numbers have dropped to about 4,000
The Pentagon is planning to send 5,000 troops, including military police, engineers, and Marines
Four Blackhawks, C-130s and a c-17 transports, unmanned vehicles
Trump called the caravan an ‘invasion,’ warning: ‘our Military is waiting for you!’
By GEOFF EARLE
DAILYMAIL.COM
29 October 2018
The Pentagon is dispatching 5,200 active military troops to ‘harden’ the southern border and comply with President Donald Trump’s order to deter an immigrant caravan the president called an ‘invasion’, it said Monday.
Eight hundred troops were already en route Monday – a force the Defense Department is dramatically increasing by adding helicopter companies and engineers who are bringing ‘heavy equipment.’
In total DOD is sending 5,200 troops to ‘harden’ the border, the Pentagon said at a briefing Monday.
‘We’ll reinforce along priority points of entry so as to enhance [Border Patrol]’s ability to harden and secure the border,” said Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy Monday.
The forces are ‘just the start’ of the operation,’ he said.
The 800 troops en route are in addition to the more than 2,000 members of the National Guard already providing assistance at the border now. Officials say the troops will provide “mission enhancing capabilities” and will be armed.
‘We are bringing three helicopter companies in. They are enhanced with optics and censors that will allow them to operate at night and provide assistance to bring our [border patrol] personnel exactly where they need to be regardless of the conditions,’ he said.
The Pentagon says the added forces will be able to ‘spot, identify groups and rapidly deploy’ personnel as need.
‘The helicopters will ensure the agents can arrive in the most austere locations and fast-rope down and conduct and work the law enforcement activities,’ said Gen. O’Shaughnessy.
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