By the
A.M. Costa Rica wire services
Reported on VOA ( www.voanews.com), the
Pentagon will send some 300 troops to the
U.S.-Mexico border to help in tasks that
will put them in contact with migrants,
marking a break in current practice.
A statement released Monday by the
Department of Defense said the troops will
provide administrative support, helping
transport migrants, distributing meals and
"monitoring" their welfare.
The Pentagon said the deployment, which was
requested by the Department of Homeland
Security, will last until the end of
September and cost about $7.4 million.
There are already about 2,900 active-duty
troops and about 2,000 National Guard troops
helping the DHS at the border. Until now,
the troops have been forbidden to have
direct contact with migrants as a way to
emphasize that the military is not in a law
enforcement role.
"DoD personnel will not perform any law
enforcement functions," Lt. Col. Jamie Davis
said in a statement. "In any situation that
requires DoD personnel to be in proximity to
migrants, DHS law enforcement personnel will
be present to conduct all custodial and law
enforcement functions, and provide force
protection of military personnel."
|
|
