News
Troops Trump Sent to Border as Midterms Base Get-Out-the-Vote Exercise Will Be Going Home Soon
The nearly 6000 U.S. troops President Donald Trump ordered to the Southern border as a pre-midterms election show of strength to the base are being sent home – after Thanksgiving.
For weeks Trump focused on the “caravan” of Honduran migrants who were walking toward the U.S.-Mexico border, falsely painting them as a direct threat to Americans. As soon as the midterms were over Trump stopped focusing on the impoverished migrants, many of whom would like to seek asylum.
Politico reports that in addition to the troops coming home for Christmas, Army Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan “confirmed previous reports that the military rejected a request from the Department of Homeland Security for an armed force to back up Border Patrol agents in the event of a violent confrontation.”
“That is a law enforcement task, and the secretary of defense does not have the authority to approve that inside the homeland,” Buchanan said.
Troops are expected to leave the border by December 15.
NBC News political reporter Benjy Sarlin, citing a new poll, says most Americans do not “see the caravan as a major threat,” and residents of the four Southern border states “are least likely to be worried” abut the caravan.
New Monmouth poll: “A majority of Republicans (54%) see the caravan as a major threat, but they are joined by only 28% of independents and 11% of Democrats. Regionally, residents of the four states (CA/AZ/NM/TX) that share a border with Mexico are least likely to be worried…”
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) November 19, 2018
Here’s video from VOA News last week showing troops have little to do.
Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.