Trump administration directs 1,000 more troops to Mexican border
Source: The Hill
The Pentagon announced Friday that it would direct an additional 1,000 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to install barbed wiring along existing border fences.
Defense officials said at a news briefing that the total size of the U.S. deployment of troops to the southern border would reach 6,000 by March 1, with 140 miles of additional Concertina wiring to be installed.
“That mission has evolved,” a senior defense official said. “We are now transitioning to supporting [areas] between the ports of entry. We’re laying down another 140 miles of concertina wire — [we’re] about 30 percent done with that — as well as providing a ground-based detection and monitoring mission in support of CBP."
The news came as Pentagon officials on Friday also refused to say whether the Defense Department would seek congressional approval to appropriate billions of dollars for President Trump's project to construct a wall along the border. “It has been the practice of the Department of Defense to request approval and it’s not required by law,” an official told reporters when asked whether the department would move forward without congressional approval.
Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/defense/431236-trump-administration-directs-1000-additional-troops-to-mexican-border
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