Kelly: Force OK at border

White House chief of staff John Kelly authorized troops stationed at the southern border to engage in some law enforcement activities and potentially to use deadly force — if necessary, according to a report Wednesday.

The order, which may violate the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act, was issued late Tuesday and not signed by President Trump, only Kelly, the Military Times reported.

According to the order, troops at the border are allowed to “perform those military protective activities that the secretary of defense determines are reasonably necessary.”

“Protective activities” include “a show or use of force (including lethal force, where necessary), crowd control, temporary detention and cursory search.”

Posse Comitatus bars military enforcement of domestic policies.