Report: Pentagon Identifies 7,000 American Troops for Mexico Border

The Pentagon said it has identified about 7,000 U.S. troops that could be deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border, according to Reuters.

An unnamed U.S. official, who spoke to Reuters, said that the number could change.

“The total number of troops deployed will change each day as military forces flow into the operating area, but initial estimates indicate the Department of Defense has identified approximately 7,000 troops to support if required, Operation Faithful Patriot,” the official, who was not named, told Reuters.

About 2,000 of the 7,000 troops would be on standby if they’re required, the official told the news outlet.

This week, the Pentagon announced the deployment of about 5,200 active-duty troops to the border in response to multiple caravans of migrants from Central America trekking across Mexico.

A caravan of thousands of migrants from Central America, en route to the United States, makes its way to San Pedro Tapanatepec from Arriaga, Mexico, on Oct. 27, 2018. (Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters)

On Oct. 31, President Donald Trump wrote that the “military is being mobilized at the southern border” with “many more troops coming.”

He wrote: “We will NOT let these Caravans, which are also made up of some very bad thugs and gang members, into the U.S. Our border is sacred, must come in legally. TURN AROUND!”

Trump also said that the caravan has “very tough fighters” and they “fought back hard and viciously against Mexico at” the Guatemala-Mexico border before they broke through.

“Mexican soldiers hurt, were unable, or unwilling to stop caravan. Should stop them before they reach our border, but won’t!” he added.

Children Being Smuggled

It comes as seven children who were being smuggled by people in the caravan were rescued by Guatemalan authorities, said Judicial Watch.

“The children have been taken into custody and they are being provided with food, water and medical attention, according to a high-level Guatemalan government official. The smugglers have been arrested and the broader investigation into criminal activity in the caravan is ongoing,” the organization wrote.

READ MORE

• Migrant Caravans Part of Larger Plan to Damage US
• Trump: 15,000 Troops Could Be Sent to Border

The United Nations said on Oct. 26, that there were 2,300 children traveling in the first migrant caravan. “While those traveling with the caravan hope for safety in numbers, the perils of using irregular migration routes remain significant, especially for children,” stated the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF). It added: “A Judicial Watch team, headed by Director of Investigations Chris Farrell, spent several days on the Guatemala-Honduras border covering the illegal alien caravan, which originated in the northern Honduran city of San Pedro Sula. The team filed a number of exclusive reports and videos and met with Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales and other top government officials.”

“The journey is long, uncertain, and full of danger, including the risk of exploitation, violence, and abuse,” UNICEF said.