Prez military threat
President Trump threatened to mobilize the military and even shut down the border if Mexico fails to stop thousands of migrants heading toward the United States.
“I must, in the strongest of terms, ask Mexico to stop this onslaught - and if unable to do so I will call up the U.S. Military and CLOSE OUR SOUTHERN BORDER!” Trump tweeted Thursday.
He also blasted Democrats for being weak on immigration and repeated warnings that he would curb aid to Central American countries that do no halt the caravan.
“I am watching the Democrat Party led (because they want Open Borders and existing weak laws) assault on our country by Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, whose leaders are doing little to stop this large flow of people, INCLUDING MANY CRIMINALS,” Trump said.
He emphasized the importance he places on stopping the migrants from entering the country.
“The assault on our country at our Southern Border . . . is far more important to me, as President, than Trade or the USMCA,” he wrote, referring to the deal his administration negotiated to replace NAFTA.
Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales said he had spoken to his counterpart in Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernandez, and they agreed that Trump cannot set terms for aid.
“No help can be conditioned and no help can be demanded,” Mo- rales said, adding that he and Hernandez are ensuring safe passage to migrants wanting to return home.
The incoming foreign minister of Mexico, Marcelo Ebrard, said Trump’s actions are “predictable” coming so close to November’s midterm elections.
“He’s making a political calculation,” he said.
The procession of migrants from Central American countries began last Friday and the number has swelled to more than 4,000 people.
Mexican authorities have said that members of the caravan will be treated like anybody else seeking to enter Mexican territory: Those with proper documentation will be allowed to pass while anybody entering the country “in an irregular manner” will be appre- hended and, if appropriate, returned to their home country.
The last time a similar caravan of immigrants sought to cross into Mexico, in April, authorities gave the marchers short-term visas that allowed them to reach the United States border.
That angered Trump, who sent National Guard troops to the USMexico border, saying the caravan posed a threat to US sovereignty.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto in Mexico City Friday. The caravan will be on the agenda, according to the State Department.
The US gave $248 million in aid to Guatemala, $175 million to Honduras and $115 million to El Salvador in the 2017 fiscal year.