Posted on 09/11/2019 10:53:41 AM PDT by BeauBo
The US Defense Department said Tuesday that it would keep up to 5,500 troops deployed at the Mexican border for the coming year to help combat illegal immigration.
A week after announcing it would divert $3.6 billion in funds for the construction of an anti-migrant wall on the frontier, the Pentagon said it had also approved a request from the Department of Homeland Security to maintain a troop presence as well.
The Defense Department "will provide up to 5,500 personnel to provide infrastructure support; operational support; detection and monitoring support; and air support," said Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Chris Mitchell.
The increased military presence on the US side of the border mirrors a significantly expanded deployment by Mexican troops, following pressure from President Donald Trump, including threat of trade sanctions.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
With incoming flows dropping sharply, the logistics support might start to lean a bit more toward outflows. They will likely keep pulling shifts in the command centers watching screens, to free up badged officers (operational support).
It seems like the situational awareness of the border mission is becoming institutionalized within the Military's NORTHCOM (who run North America's Air Defense - NORAD). Some ground troops will probably continue to drive around mobile sensors, but sophisticated aerospace-based monitoring seems to be increasing significantly (detection and monitoring support; and air support).
.……….Great, just don’t send our kids out on the Rio Grande River, miles from backup, at night, and with a rifle that has no bullets!
Still leaks.
Something like this:
The Military is not doing any direct law enforcement in their support to DHS.
They are back-filling badged Border Patrol Officers from other duties, so those with legal arrest powers can be used where needed.
They also perform some other functions, like operating their own surveillance systems to watch the border, or hardening the border infrastructure (welders installing crowd control barriers at Ports of Entry, and Combat Engineers emplacing concertina on the bollard barriers).
None of the Military support is to confront banditos directly.
.……...well, I just seem to recall some National Guard troops getting held at gunpoint by Mexican Soldiers one or two months back?????
I have no problem with that
If our military is doing support for border patrol, so more border patrol can be out there arresting/detaining, that is fine with me.
I have no problem with our military doing back end support, infrastructure work/repairs etc
That concertina really makes it harder to get over with a ladder, which is about the only option left available to average man by these bollards.
One slip, and they will be maimed or killed. Encountering multiple rolls of concertina 30 feet in the air is a terrifying prospect.
“some National Guard troops getting held at gunpoint by Mexican Soldiers one or two months back?”
Those Mexican troops crossed into the USA (apparently moonlighting as lookouts for a cartel), and initiated the contact.
There are troops right along the border performing functions (like surveillance and emplacing concertina), but none of them are there to engage crossers directly.
The Posse Conitatus Act prohibits the Military from conducting law enforcement.
It can be done in an emergency (like the LA Riots, Post Hurricane Katrina, or during school de-segregation n the South). Also, National Guard troops can be deputized for law enforcement by their State Governors.
Neither of those exceptions is currently being invoked for the Military support to DHS.
Good.
We have to do whatever it takes.
In addition to just providing surge capability when Border Patrol is overwhelmed by an increase in numbers, the Military also brings some high tech capabilities for surveillance (air, ground and space).
I have advocated that USNORTHCOM be formally tasked with permanently monitoring the entire Southern Border, like they do North America’s airspace (NORAD). It seems that they are stepping up their support to DHS on the border.
They have a standing Task Force focused on the Southern Border, which has been providing command and control of the Military units tasked to support DHS.
There have been reports of a significant amount of new Military predator drone coverage being established on an ongoing (perhaps permanent) basis, along the border.
NORTHCOM could bring some sophisticated satellite and sensor fusion ability, to establish full situational awareness of the entire Southern border, including a wide band for early warning and tracking, on either side of the border.
Bring em home from Germany Japan South Korea and elsewhere and put them guarding Our borders
The deep-state-controlled Pentagon still doesn't get it! If anyone there is actually serious about the Presidents goals, the number should be in the 25,000 to 45,000 range, IMHO...
Once again the question is: Which is a bigger threat to the Nation. the current full-scale invasion from Mexico or a possible invasion from Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Germany, or China?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.