U.S. sending 5,200 troops to secure border as migrant caravan advances

WASHINGTON — A week out from the U.S. midterm elections, the Pentagon said on Monday it is sending 5,200 troops, some armed, to the Southwest border in a military operation to help stop illegal crossings by a caravan of migrants moving slowly north in Mexico.

U.S. President Donald Trump, eager to focus voters on immigration in the lead-up to the elections, escalated his threats against the caravan, tweeting: “This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!”

His warning came as the Pentagon began executing “Operation Faithful Patriot,” described by the commander of U.S. Northern Command as an effort to help Customs and Border Protection stiffen defences at and near legal entry points. Advanced helicopters will enable border protection agents to swoop down on migrants, he said.

“We’re going to secure the border,” Air Force Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy, the Northern Command leader, said at a news conference. He spoke alongside Kevin McAleenan, commissioner of Customs and Border Protection.

O’Shaughnessy said troops would focus first on Texas, followed by Arizona and then California.

The caravan of 3,500 has shrunk from a peak of about 7,200 migrants a week ago, but a second caravan of about 600 had formed and was clashing with federal police on a bridge from Guatemala to Mexico.

The military operation drew quick criticism.

“Sending active military forces to our southern border is not only a huge waste of taxpayer money, but an unnecessary course of action that will further terrorize and militarize our border communities,” said Shaw Drake of the American Civil Liberties Union’s border-rights centre at El Paso, Texas.