Mattis Expected to Order 800 More Troops to Southern Border – Should Congress Authorize Them for Law Enforcement Within the U.S?

What’s the story?

• Defense Secretary James Mattis is expected to sign deployment orders as early as Thursday sending 800 or more troops to the border with Mexico to support Border Patrol.
• Mattis is responding to a request from President Donald Trump, who said earlier in the day that he was making good on his threat of “bringing out the military” to stop a caravan of Honduran migrants and asylum seekers trekking to the U.S. through Mexico.
• Trump and his fellow Republicans have tried to make the caravan – and immigration – a major issue ahead of the November 6 midterm elections.

• Immigrant rights activists have said the members of the caravan are fleeing poverty and violence.

What will the troops do?

• First, what they can't do: perform law enforcement duties. That would be a violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the use of active-duty service members for law enforcement within the U.S.—unless they are specifically authorized by Congress.
• Officials have told various media outlets that the troops will provide logistical support to Border Patrol, including vehicles, tents, equipment, and medical support.

Is there precedent for this action?

• In 2006, President George W. Bush deployed National Guard troops to the southern border.
• In 2010, President Barack Obama sent nearly 1,200 National Guard troops to combat an increase in drug smuggling and unauthorized immigration.
• In April 2017, President Trump signed a memorandum to deploy National Guard troops to the southern border. 2,000 National Guard troops are currently assisting at the border under this previous Pentagon arrangement.

What do you think?

Is the caravan a “national emergency”? Until the U.S. can “stop people at the border” should Trump bring in the military? Should Congress authorize the use of active-duty service members to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border? Hit Take Action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

(Photo Credit: iStockphoto.com / Brad Greeff)