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© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2018.Trump threatens to send military, shut border as migrants head for Mexico
By usan Heavey and Sofia Menchu WASHINGTON/GUATEMALA CITY©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
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Serrano
"Mexico's incoming foreign minister, Marcelo Ebrard, told local radio that he was not surprised by Trump's comments, and said it was political.
"It was predictable, and it's also very close to the election. He's making a political calculation," Ebrard said,"
He's doing what's right to protect U.S. citizens, which he was elected to do.
As a growing caravan of migrants travels through Central America to the U.S. border, former ICE acting director Tom Homan says Democrats are to blame for playing politics with border security:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuu1RSoUVU8
cla68
As soon as the caravan reaches the US border the Democrats and media will start screaming about “separation of children from their parents “
ZENJI
THE COWARD COMMANDER at his best. Every day threats, threats, and more threats.
trump is just a delinquent bully who needs to increase his ritalin dosage.
MarkX
The cynic in me almost wonders if this is all a stunt someway funded by the GOP to help make this a bigger issue just before the election. Trump screams "we need the wall" and every republican candidate running jumps on the border wall bandwagon.
You would think that Mexico would be more proactive in this situation as well. They are getting blamed for the illegal immigrants coming into the US, but they are only passing through their country. Can they not prevent people entering their southern border?
Cochise
MarkX, Nice one - blame Trump for setting this up. Its official: lefties have lost the plot.
Blacklabel
its political all right. From the people financially supporting the caravan to create some more manufactured outrage at the border. Another chance to put pics of kids in cages during the Obama administration on TV right before the election.
It will backfire just like everything else. The average voter who doesn’t even like Trump can support military on the border if a large group of people try to illegally enter.
CrazyJoe
Trump is certifiable at long last. He's looking the other way as the Saudis murder and dismember journalists, but is at the ready to call in the military to gun down women and children on our southern border. God help us all.
This will rally his base for the midterm elections.
lincolnman
Trump pulls another one from his Master's (Putin) playbook - ignore reality, script fiction to galvanize those you have hoodwinked.
People are suffering as a result of Hurricane Michael - they need the government to focus its full efforts on saving lives, restoring power, helping re-build, etc. Yet Trump ignores them and traffics in his unhinged manufactured fiction to try to get more of his supporters to the polls.
Don't believe it people - don't buy in to the lies and distraction - don't let Trump manipulate you like Putin manipulates the Russian people.
PTownsend
Trump understands within his voting base there are millions of people easily frightened; he’s using his office to frighten them more. Right before election.
Trump, like all despots past and present, knows he needs to have his followers believe there are enemies (could be the left/libs/dems, or in this case someone not from his ethnic group) ready to do them harm, but he’s there to protect them. And the easily frightened believe him.
By pointing to this latest ‘enemy’ he’s directing attention away from the myriad illegal, unethical and immoral issues he’s long been involved in, including his shady business relations with the Saudi royal family. And Putin. Among others.
gelendestrasse
And yet we've got engineers with masters degrees who can't stay in the country because they're following the rules. This is some sort of bizarre publicity stunt that's just going to have the politicians playing political football with people as the ball. Immigration is easy. No felony, yes job, you, your spouse, and kids are in. Anything more complicated is politics.
Hawkeye
The USA is not a free meal or free ride and I don't know where that idea came from and the words cast on the statue of liberty are written by the French who donated it and are not applicable to modern day USA. Sorry for those folks who are heading north but they do not have skill sets (aka as employable), English language abilities or money to survive in the USA. Why should my family and I subsidize them when my family and I can not pay for decent healthcare or enjoy the fruits of our labors.
theFu
I think a wall is mostly stupid. Electronic measures would be more cost effective.
Take away the carrot so people don't want to risk coming to the USA illegally.
Goodlucktoyou
It is better to use the military for self defense than to send it overseas and kill women and children and men.
Kuya 808
Do you honestly believe that the US military would gun down women and children for attempting to cross the border illegally? Do you honestly believe that Trump would order them to?
If the Mexican government is unable or unwilling to address this issue, the potential for a humanitarian crisis at the US border becomes a serious concern, for everybody. If it remains unchecked, this influx of people at the border will definitely overwhelm the already strained resources available and there is probably no organization better suited to handle the logistics of a humanitarian relief effort than the US military.
lincolnman
There's something that needs to be said about the entire immigration issue that has been lost in all the rhetoric and grandstanding...
Trump has taken the immigration issue and weaponized it - he created the false narrative that Republicans want the border strictly enforced because the US is being overwhelmed by dangerous immigrants who do nothing but commit crimes. He then falsely asserts that Democrats are for complete and open borders that allow anyone to come in. BS.
Democrats and Republicans want the border secured - those that try to enter illegally should be denied and returned to their home country. But we have to deal with those already here - and previous "Paths to Citizenship" and "Dreamer" efforts would have passed if a few far-right Republicans wouldn't have stone-walled them. A majority of Americans don't want to militarize the border - if ICE needs additional personnel, then provide them the funding to perform their mission. US troops are not border agents - having them perform this function just reduces their combat skills.
Don't demonize immigrants, don't separate families from their children, don't house them in prions-like conditions. Don't allow illegals to enter, but treat them with dignity and respect.
Bottom-line - stop the demonizing and demagoguing and pass a comprehensive immigration law that addresses this key issue.
Blacklabel
Then where are the Dems supporting Trump in stopping these people from illegally entering? If you never support closing a border then you are for open borders.
SuperLib
Mexico is waiting for Trump to pay for the wall.
Chip Star
Who are you alluding to that is funding these caravans? Hillary and her millions that she didn't get from anyone? Obama? The Deep State? WaPo? CNN? Antifa? Patriot Prayer? Proud Boys? the KKK? the Nation of Islam?
You are conflating issues here. Democrats are all for people entering in the correct manner. What Democrats aren't for is: punishing children because their parents broke the law; using falsehoods about minorities to create fear to get the frightened people to support issues that do not exist; separating children from their parents or legal guardians; targeting people who cross the southern border disproportionally to the actual problem - visa overstayers; and, etc.
Ricky Kaminski13
Next time you scream about the inhumanity of protecting the borders from illegal immigrants remember to knock down the fence to your own house and take the door off it’s hinges.
bass4funk
So what do you want him to do? No liberal can ever ask that question, just more typical bloviating from the left.
Gun down???? Here we go again......
Blocking illegal aliens from entering the country without papers mind you has nothing to do with shooting or killing. No one said that or is insinuating that. However, we don’t have the means or resources to deal with 16,000 illegals, now if Jerry Brown wants them all to reside in his neighborhood, good on him, but for the majority of Americans along the border states it’s out of the question.
Yes. I’m all for legal immigration, but you have to do it by the books, you can’t just say screw it and think and expect or even demand that the US has an obligation to take you in, that’s totally absurd, not to mention humanly irresponsible.
nishikat
Yes, like Reagan's style (3M free green cards)
Cool! I have a house on the Rio Grande and I get free security 24/7. Thanks Trump and Mr. TaxPayer (suckers!!!!)
bass4funk
No, you guys really don’t.
However, we know exactly what happens when emotions are unreasonably and untruthfully inflamed by the left and law enforcement encounters minorities. It never turns out well for Americans.
Democrats and liberals absolutely support illegal immigration, absolutely support it, because if they did not they would be in support for the war they would be in support for ending the chain migration, they will be in support for ending the visa lottery, they would be in support for verifiable ID and they are not in support inanities, so they are not in anyway supportive of anything illegal.
Yes, we can see it in San Francisco and in the greater LA County how those resources are really benefiting helping all these illegal aliens, but you’re never going to see that in orange county.
Jerry Brown, or Kamila Harris or Diane Feinstein want to take these people in, good luck to them.
AetherCzar
I'm mexican and as such I really hope the talks between Ebrard and Pompeo can find a way to stop this illegal immigrants at the south border. Buuut, since we have a lot of jungle over there, I can see how it would be a big challenge to face.
Chip Star
We agree that it never turns out well for Americans, but you disagree with the majority of the evidence that it turns out worse for minority Americans.
This is a false duality that is not based in reality. Democrats do not support a knee-jerk reaction to the fear which has been whipped up by propaganda. You did not substantively address any of my points in your fear-driven screed.
bass4funk
I agree that it turns out that for many of the illegals, but rules are rules and you can’t be a revolving door for everyone, because if you don’t put boundaries or limit the amount of people to come in then it’s just going to be a massive anarchy is a free for all, and you can’t have that, you need to have the law of rule in order and if these people are so desperate then they need to make a case and wait in line just like everyone else.
From a liberal open border perspective that might seem so. I agree.
They absolutely do, because they didn’t they would be fierce on illegal immigration 100%, but they’re not, they make excuses every single time for thousands of people that want to come in and it never ends with the Democrats and the numbers are increasing. The other reason is also that there has not been that big of an enthusiasm push in this midterm election for Latinos as it is for white people and especially single white women, now all of a sudden we hear about this caravan...hmmmmm....
Chip Star
We've found the source of the funds Blacklab was talking about.
Concerned Citizen
President Trump has the right and responsibility to prevent people entering his country illegally. Every country does that. It's difficult to understand why this is controversial.
Chip Star
Nobody is disputing this. What is controversial are the methods of enforcement.
bass4funk
Most definitely.
We are the only country where liberals think having open borders and allowing thousands to come in illegally is a great thing for the country.
Serrano
Crazy: "He's looking the other way as the Saudis murder and dismember journalists..."
Um, the investigation is still ongoing. All we have so far are what the Turks are saying.
"... but is at the ready to call in the military to gun down women and children on our southern border."
That is a ludicrous statement. Notice how in all the footage you see on all channels, all the people you see are military aged men? Almost no women or children, no older people, just men in their 20's... all clean, all apparently healthy and well fed. Interesting.
Oh my...
The caravan of lies and manipulation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUdF_5GS2Qk
nishikat
I own vast land along the Rio Grande and have yet to encounter any illegals. But I have encountered undesirable Americans (citizens) trespassing. Because of that I am looking forward to getting free security services from Trump's paranoia (US tax dollars at work, LOVE IT!!!). These lethally armed troops that Trump will spend billions on to protect the 2,000 mile border will do nothing to make me safer from illegals. I have never seen any. But I know they will deter bad Americans trespassing on my property. Go Trump (suckers!!). I am benefiting from Trump's paranoia. I guess I can cancel my service from ADT security services if Trump is going to take care of my security for free.
Serrano
nishikat: "I own vast land along the Rio Grande and have yet to encounter any illegals"
Har!
Oh my!
Trump’s agreement with Mexico will keep US border secure, ‘Angel mom’ says
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23AlTYcQZ6M
That's 4,000 fewer votes for liberal Democrats! Yea!
nishikat
What's har about it. Trump is going to order military protection personally for me at taxpayer expense. Reagan allowed millions to stay. This is all from the conservatives.
Blacklabel
Better use of my tax dollars than the liberal cause of the day. Imagine how much that Kavanaugh hearing and the FBI investigation cost. Not to mention Mueller and his team of 20 lawyers.
Protecting our nation from illegal entry is critical and funded as part of our national defense.
nishikat
That's right. Also, I just consulted with my property rights attorney and with the US army on my land protecting the border (again, at tax payers' expense) I get to collect money from the US government since they are occupying my land. It's OK, I won't see them since my land is so vast. But I have calculated that I can retire early. US taxpayers suckers. Not only do I get free protection, I get paid for it.
Dom Palmer
Government has many jobs and the ALL have to be done everyday. Focusing full effort on one issue while ignoring others is not only foolish but criminal.
What lies? There is a large group of illegal immigrants moving north from Central America in an attempt to cross the US border. That is a fact. Just like it is a fact that one of the government's jobs is to secure the border against illegal crossing.
despot - a ruler or other person who holds absolute power. The definition of the word you used doesn't match the reality you try and attach it to.
So Democrats believe that if a US citizen is arrested they shouldn't be separated from their children? Or does the no separation rule only apply to non-citizens?
The troops already exist and would be getting paid whether on the border or sitting in their barracks.
nishikat
No, there will be more and my land rights attorney is drafting a long-term lease for these ARMY troops to use my land to fight off the illegals. Looking forward to a good payday. And according to Hannity Trump is going to put nuclear subs in the Rio Grande River to help protect the border.
Dom Palmer
Yes, there will be no more troops in the military than the current number, so no more money spent than would be anyways. And your 'land rights attorney' is getting your money for nothing as the troops won't be based on your (or anyone's) private land. They will be at existing government facilities and respond to places where illegal crossers are detected. Just like happens currently with Border Patrol WITHOUT paying any 'lease' to landowners.
And finally you show that you are a troll. Hannity said no such thing and a US nuclear sub would be essentially useless in a river like the Rio Grande. Why not go back to your hovel under the Brooklyn Bridge and keep trying to sell it to unsuspecting rubes?
Andrew Topolski
Looks like the democrats failed again. They just don't get it, their games and scams are not going to work. This latest, organizing yet another Mob , this time to invade the US would have worked for Obama, because he would let them in. Trump is following relatively normal actions most people expect, don't let invaders in. Democrats at some point have to give up the socialism, the lies, the fabrications, the cons, the scams and the, abject greed if they want to start winning again
Strangerland
Or maybe you don't get it, and they will.
Strangerland
Republicans at some point have to figure out how to win without gerrymandering and vote suppression, combined with campaigns based on hatred, or they'll never be able to win again.
theFu
Most people don't think all illegal immigrants are dangerous. That is called "political rhetoric." It is typical for all politicians. Just like the other side said all families were being split up, which wasn't true.
But if 1 illegal immigrant is involved in a violent crime, then the spotlight is on all of them. Just like how 1 family sending their children to the border separately hoping to get into foster care inside the USA is "splitting up families at the border." Rhetoric with just enough truth to be possible.
I'm not worried about violence from any immigrants, but the illegal immigrants shouldn't be in the country in the first place, so none of that violence, as small as it is, should have ever happened inside the USA. THAT is the real point for anti-Illegal immigrant supporters.
People on the border with Mexico are brave. To them, it isn't about the economic illegal immigrants with families crossing, it is about the drug cartels with 20-50 armed men carrying drugs up and illegal drug money and weapons back across there land where their kids and grand kids play.
The landowners don't want anyone on their property uninvited. Military, border control, illegal immigrants or drug cartels. The bought the remote land to be ranchers or just to be left alone. 50-200 people sneaking through their property nightly isn't what they wanted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy9a-hk4Ev4
If the USA legalized marijuana, much of that traffic would relocate to trucks and much would disappear as we grow our own in our backyards, for personal use. Doesn't it grow like a weed? Asking for a friend.
bass4funk
Really?
https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/05/gerrymandering-examples-caused-liberal-judges/
the focus on partisanship has obscured the fact that the high court’s opinion that the historic underrepresentation of minorities must be compensated for when drawing districts has had a far greater impact on elections than any computer model. The odd shape of many districts has fueled Democratic resentment about their electoral hard luck, but the impetus for making such districts was a desire to increase the number of black and Hispanic members of Congress, not Republicans.
Both parties have always treated the process of drawing congressional districts — mandated every ten years by the Census results — as an opportunity to increase their odds of winning while harming their opponents’ chances. In recent decades, this has become more scientific as computer analysis has replaced the old-school vote counting utilized since the days of Elbridge Gerry (our fifth vice president but better known for the Massachusetts district map he signed into law as governor in 1812 that gave its name to the practice). However, the sophisticated nature of current computer-driven efforts isn’t what has enabled Republicans to weaponize the process in recent years. Rather it is the that the Supreme Court ruling in **Thornburg v. Gingles resulted in Democrats’ most reliable voting group being drained out of competitive districts.**
And the left with their constant talk of racism and fear mongering, they will hate, despise, torture, burn crosses on your lawn etc. fear and intimidation with a constant drumbeat of fear tactics and now because there is a lack of Latino voter enthusiasm, all of a sudden we hear a caravan is on the way. If 30% of Latinos don’t vote 19 days from now, game over. If they can’t get American Latinos, get illegals to vote, Seems like the next logical step.
Strangerland
Yep. In a country that leans more liberal, in both numbers, and voting power, the Republicans have had the whitehouse 10 out of the past 18 years, eight of those based on elections in which the Republicans were not the choice of the people. And now they have a majority on the Supreme court, as a result of denying Garland. This has all been made possible through gerrymandering and vote suppression by the Republicans. It's not like the people want the Republicans, they have just rigged the system so that they win, even though the majority of people don't lean their way.
nishikat
Reagan really did this with his 3 million green card amnesty. Republicans are suckers! They give out the green cards and the Dems. get the vote! Ha ha
Concerned Citizen
Chip Star:
Are you sure? He's been called all sorts of names for his 'legal immigration only' policy. Racist, bigot, nationalist, fascist, etc, etc. Also, some cities have declared themselves 'sanctuary cities' in order to protect illegals. It seems to me that the opposition is more to his policy of insisting on legal immigration rather than the method of enforcement.
What controversial methods of enforcement?
Dom Palmer
I think he might be referring to the methods of enforcement also used by his Democratic predecessors. Although when they used those methods there was no large scale protests or media coverage.