Trump allows troops to use lethal force at Mexico border
DONALD TRUMP said yesterday that he had authorised US troops to use lethal force against migrants attempting to cross America’s southern border.
The US president threatened to close the entire border with Mexico if control was unable to be maintained at ports of entry into the US.
“If they have to, they have to use lethal force. I hope they don’t have to, but you’re dealing with a minimum of 500 serious criminals. So I’m not going to let the military be taken advantage of,” he declared.
“If we find that it gets to a level where we lose control or people are going to start getting hurt, we’re going to close entry into the country for a period of time until we get it under control,” he added, warning that large numbers of people were massing at the border. “We have no idea who they are, and in many cases they’re not good people. They’re bad people.”
He made the comments after reports that John Kelly, his chief of staff, signed an order on Tuesday enabling active troops to use “a show or use of force (including lethal force, where necessary), crowd control, temporary detention and cursory search”, to protect border agents. Leaked documents seen by the Military Times website state the order allows personnel to perform protective military activities that the Secretary of Defence determines are reasonable to protect border agents.
The move is likely to provoke concern from military and legal officials, who have previously warned that such action could be unlawful.
Mr Trump spread alarm earlier this month when he suggested troops deployed to the Mexican border could open fire at migrants approaching America if provoked.
A number of retired generals came forward to criticise him publicly, suggesting that lethal force could violate the rules of engagement.
Mr Trump deployed 5,800 troops on the border before the midterm elections, bringing the first wave back this week. The deployment cost £56 million.
He used the traditional presidential Thanksgiving message to troops yesterday to threaten to close the Us-mexico border.
Spending the holiday at his Florida estate, Mar-a-lago, the president spoke on the telephone to the commander of Bagram air force base in Afghanistan, telling the troops how profoundly grateful he was for their service.
He then continued his heavy criti- cisms of the Ninth Circuit Court. On Monday, Judge Jon Tigar enraged Mr Trump by blocking his plan to prevent illegal migrants from seeking asylum.
“It’s a terrible thing when judges take over your protective services when they tell you how to protect your border,” he said. “It’s a disgrace.”
He also defended his daughter Ivanka after it emerged this week that she used a private email address for
‘We have no idea who they are. In many cases they’re not good people. They’re bad people’
government business – something for which he condemned Hillary Clinton – and repeated his defence of Saudi Arabia in the light of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
“I don’t know if anyone’s going to be able to conclude that the Crown Prince did it,” said Mr Trump, despite the CIA connecting Mohammed bin Salman to the killing. “Whether he did or whether he didn’t, he denies it vehemently.”
Yesterday the president, who faces questions about his failure to visit troops in any war zone, hinted during the Thanksgiving call that he may soon travel to Afghanistan. “Maybe I’ll see you over there. You never know what’s going to happen,” he told the commander.
After the call, he paid a 12-minute visit to the Coast Guard to thank them for their work during the hurricane season. He spent the rest of the holiday playing golf at his Florida course.