The Pentagon said Friday it expects approval for 300 more troops to be sent to the border in support roles.
The proposal would be a change of policy to allow troops to come in contact with migrants on the southern border.
“The Department has been transparent and vocal in its request for assistance dealing with the humanitarian and security crisis at our southern border. We appreciate DoD’s long history of assistance on all our border security missions,” Department of Homeland Security press secretary Tyler Q. Houlton told the Washington Examiner.
“The current crisis requires DoD’s assistance in both of those roles, which will be provided in a manner that fully complies with applicable law,” Houlton said.
Charles Summers, a spokesman with the Department of Defense, said the proposal was likely to be approved and the troops would not have any law enforcement role but rather would be used in support positions.
The 300 troops would include roughly 20 lawyers, 100 cooks, and 160 drivers.
Pentagon spokesman Jamie Davie confirmed the request to the Washington Examiner: “The gist of it is correct. Sec Shanahan [sic] has a request from DHS but he still needs to approve it. We have no ETA when he might do so.”
Trump has repeatedly threatened to send more troops to the southern border to deal with the influx of illegal immigration.
On Wednesday, Trump threatened to send more “armed soldiers” after Mexican troops disarmed American soldiers on the United States side of the border.
Mexico’s Soldiers recently pulled guns on our National Guard Soldiers, probably as a diversionary tactic for drug smugglers on the Border. Better not happen again! We are now sending ARMED SOLDIERS to the Border. Mexico is not doing nearly enough in apprehending & returning!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 24, 2019
There are approximately 5,000 National Guard troops at the southern border.
Trump declared a national emergency in February to move funding to help build a wall along the border.
