Border troops could hit 15,000
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says the number of military troops deployed to the U.S.-Mexican border could reach 15,000 — roughly double the number the Pentagon said it currently plans for a mission whose dimensions are shifting daily.
The Pentagon says "more Just last week officials than 7,000" troops were being were indicating that about 800 sent to the southwest border to 1,000 might be sent. On to support the Customs and Monday, officials announced Border Protection agents. that about 5,200 were being Officials said that number deployed. The next day, the could reach a maximum of Air Force general running about 8,000 under present the operation said more than plans. the initially announced total
The troop numbers have were going, and he pointedly been changing at a dizzying rejected a news report that it pace, with Trump drawing a could reach 14,000, saying hard line on immigration in that was "not consistent the lead-up to the midterm with what's actually being elections. planned."
Gen. Terrence O'Shaughnessy, the commander of U.S. Northern Command, told reporters the number would exceed the initial contingent of 5,200, but he offered no estimate of the eventual total.
Just 24 hours later, Trump thrust new uncertainty into the picture, catching the Pentagon by surprise.
With his eyes squarely on Tuesday's contests, Trump has rushed a series of immigration declarations, promises and actions as he tries to mobilize supporters to retain Republican control of Congress. His own Republican campaign in 2016 concentrated on border fears, and that's his focus in the final week of the midterm fight.