Seattle Congressman Adam Smith, who will likely be Chair of the House Armed Services Committee come January, has sent a letter to President Trump demanding information about the president’s deployment of thousands of US troops to the border with Mexico to help counter what Trump has called an “invasion” by asylum-seekers from Central America.
As images continue to come in showing the US Border Patrol firing tear gas at some of the migrants—including women and children who are fleeing dire conditions in their home countries—Congressman Smith wants to know why Trump is adding the US military into what is an already volatile mix.
“I strongly oppose the President’s recent change in policy granting the military expanded authority regarding the use of lethal force, detention and search of civilians, and crowd control on our southern border,” Smith said today in a statement. “This guidance is unwise, unnecessary, and likely illegal.”
Smith continued:
It is unwise because the President is creating a dangerous situation where thousands of armed troops are being asked to operate under vague and unclear rules of engagement. It is unnecessary because there is no evidence that the U.S. Border Patrol isn’t capable of handling the situation on its own. The guidance is likely illegal because the military is prohibited from conducting law enforcement activities in the United States by the Posse Comitatus Act.
This deployment has been a politically motivated stunt from its inception, and it is putting the U.S. military in an inappropriate position while undermining service members’ ability to train and perform their appropriate functions.
In his letter to the president, Smith demands details on Trump’s justification for sending troops, cost figures for the deployment, and an explanation of why the US Border Patrol—with its tear gas, helicopters, trucks, and steel barricades—can’t do this job on its own.
Trump’s response to these latest developments?
Mexico should move the flag waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries. Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the U.S.A. We will close the Border permanently if need be. Congress, fund the WALL!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 26, 2018
