Border must be defended against caravan

Far from being an overreaction, President Trump’s decision to send roughly 800 activeduty troops to the southern U.S. border represents a prudent response to deal with a potential overflow of Central American migrants making their way north through Mexico. Trump’s detractors have tried to frame his actions as purely political, timed to rally his base before the midterm elections. While sending additional personnel to the U.S.-Mexico border may energize Trump’s supporters, it also gives comfort to countless other Americans, especially in the Southern states of Texas, Louisiana, Arizona and Florida, directly impacted by the continual flow of illegal immigrants into this country. And that’s how this mass of mostly Honduran nationals, initially estimated at 7,200, would be classified if they seek entry into the U.S. Fleeing gang violence or other domestic factors doesn’t qualify them for asylum status as refugees. The president didn’t create this situation or blow it out of proportion. The images of this sea of humanity broadcast continually by the cable news networks can take credit for that. Rather than inflame the situation, President Trump’s tweet to those seeking illegal entry into the U.S. offered sound advice: Go back to your country and, if you want, apply for citizenship like millions of others are doing. Apparently, a growing number of these individuals and families have seen the futility of their illadvised decision. According to Mexican authorities, their numbers have dropped from the 7,200 estimate earlier in the week to 3,630 on Wednesday. Still, there were other news reports that a second caravan of people was forming in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador and being readied to hit the road for the arduous trip north. These continuous violations at the border’s edge have to stop — and President Trump, for once, is the White House leader to stop it. He deserves our support in this regard. The additional military force won’t be armed with fixed bayonets, ready to rout the caravan population. (Federal law prohibits the use of active duty service members for law enforcement inside the U.S. unless specifically authorized by Congress.) The troops, mostly from the Army and the Air Force, would provide logistical and other assistance to the U.S. Border Patrol. They’ll complement the approximately 2,000 National Guard forces already there. The Guard’s mission is also limited to support roles, including surveillance activities. We don’t dismiss the problems at home that spurred these Central American residents to seek a better life, but that can’t be accomplished by coming to the U.S. en masse and demanding entry. The governments of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador must do more to make the lives of their people economically sustainable and free from gangs that prey on hardworking citizens. The U.S., through aid that targets specific needs, must do more to help these countries gain the upper hand on violent criminals, in addition to offering financial assistance. At present, American taxpayers send $500 million in annual foreign aid to these aforementioned countries, which have battled their own internal political corruption scandals. How is the money being spent? Should we send more? These are good questions for federal lawmakers to scrutinize.