Exclusive: Trump expected to give troops authority to protect border personnel

[FormerOstrich]

Source: CNN

President Donald Trump is expected to grant new authority to US troops on the Southwest border with Mexico to protect Customs and Border Protection personnel from migrants if they engage in violence, according to two defense officials and another US official directly familiar with the plans. An additional administration official tells CNN that the authority will also authorize protection of federal property.
Currently troops do not have any authorities that would allow them to intervene if CBP personnel came under attack unless they need to act in their own self-defense.

<snip>

This comes as Department of Homeland Security officials said Monday that they had started to get information from "multiple sources including individuals in the Mexican government" of potential waves or groups of individuals who were discussing an incursion into legal ports of entry in California by attempting to pass through vehicle lanes.
Any potential use of force by US troops to protect CBP personnel must be "proportional," the official said.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/19/politics/border-troops-self-defense-authority/index.html

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I read an hour or so the troops were drawing down rapidly. Now King Trump is planning on changing the rules. Unilaterally, of course.

[unblock]

1. "Because what my administration really needs right now is a good old Kent state massacre"

[groundloop]

17. I wouldn't put it past Tiny and his ICE agents to start something

Tiny could certainly use a few distractions right now, I can certainly see Tiny and his ICE agents starting trouble with the migrants and dragging our troops into it.

[RockRaven]

2. Immigration is still a law enforcement issue, and Posse Comitatus Act still applies.

People in the DOD and DHS need to wise up. Up to 2 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Follow the law -- THE LAW, not what Trump's White House says the law says -- or get prosecuted the second The Dotard is gone.

[FormerOstrich]

5. RockRaven,

you are correct. But they sure seem to want to give the impression that they can snap their finger and the old rules go out the window. However, thanks for reassuring me!

[jmowreader]

3. So...

What happens if one of the militias that has gone down there starts shooting at the unarmed masses of refugees?

[C Moon]

4. With all his talk about 911, and now this, I believe something is brewing with Trumputin.

[FormerOstrich]

6. I know...

it's feeling a little ominous out there these days. The shorter days doesn't help that much.

[DENVERPOPS]

7. The Sand Creek Massacre

Here in Colorado, we have had two standoffs involving U.S. soldiers:

The Sand Creek Massacre

One down in Trinidad Colorado in early 1900's

Google them and read what took place.

Sounds a lot like Trump ordering U.S. Military to the border.

[Bayard]

21. The Sand Creek Massacre

Would be comparable blood lust and lack of empathy.

Welcome to DU.

[Ford_Prefect]

8. US law says regular military troops may not engage in police activities within US Borders.

The President alone cannot change this statute. Only Congress has that authority.

As far as I know that includes authorizing live fire on civilians.

[True Blue American]

9. Just announced!

Troops heading home! All home by Christmas just as the Caravan hits the borders!

Lock him up for wasting our money!

[True Blue American]

10. Posse- Comitatus Act

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posse_Comitatus_Act

[getagrip_already]

11. wishful thinking.....

He has two rallies on monday in MS. I'd bet a big mac and fries he tries to double down and send more troops to protect ice. They won't be home.

The ones that are being "drawn down" were always scheduled to leave early. They are engineers there to build the bases.

Other troops will backfill. No changes have happened. yet. The only change is a nonbinding statement from the pentagon, which can't act on its own.

[True Blue American]

12. The news said they would all be home

By Christmas. Trump will hope it will all fade away. It was nothing but a political ploy.

Hyde Smith would be wise to disinvite Trump. Her lynching remark was enough. Since then,she has made worse.

[getagrip_already]

14. Which news?

The stories I read, and the pentagon statement, said they are planning to bring the bulk home starting sometime after thanksgiving, but plans weren't final.

Again, the only troops leaving are the engineers that were already scheduled to leave once their work was done. Could they leave? Absolutely. But trump is one whim away from halting that plan.

I'll believe it when I can drive through the gates and walk around the grounds.

[True Blue American]

18. Both Cable stations

If you read different I take your word.

[7962]

13. Per the article; if CBP officers were actually attacked the troops couldn't do ANYTHING??

Not that it would happen, I seriously doubt it. But that does seem like an odd restriction. The CBP folks are govt personnel. If anything DID happen, I cant see how troops would just stand by and not take part in defending them just because THEY hadn't been attacked.

[getagrip_already]

16. rules of engagement......

The military takes them quite literally. They have let civilians be slaughtered in conflicts because they didn't have the authority to intervene.

But lets get back to the real world. ICE and the border patrol are a defacto para military agency. They have more fire power along the border than the army does.

Plus, the army is positioned 90 miles from the border. The army would have to go looking for trouble. And the last thing the border police want is a shooting war. How many armed incidents have even occurred?

Send the army home to their families or overseas to deployments. Don't put them in legal jeopardy for ego sake.

[7962]

20. Its certainly been nothing more than a political stunt. And a failed one. nt

[Honeycombe8]

15. Not sure that's legal.

The President can suspend the Posse Comitatus Act temporarily under certain conditions, but not sure our govt will allow this, or that it qualifies, and esp by Trump. I'm not sure the military will even do it.

The migrants aren't armed, usually. These aren't drug lords. That's why Trump was setting up the scenario that a rock is like a gun. Because he knows they aren't armed.

The Republicans let him put children in cages. Let's see if they allow him to direct the military to kill unarmed migrants.

[beachbum bob]

19. doesn't matter what trump wants, the legality is still the issue, US troops can't be used for this

[Cold War Spook]

22. I would hope that the Posse Comitatus Act

was explained to all officers before being deployed.