Trump: We Will Deploy Military Forces Until the Wall at the Mexico Border is Completed

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, stated on Tuesday that he is determined to build a border wall between the United States and Mexico and added that he intends to deploy a number of U.S. military forces at the border until the wall is fully constructed and to ensure "border security to prevent the entry of illegal immigrants." The construction of the wall between the U.S. and Mexico and the payment for it by Mexico was one of Trump's main campaign promises during his presidential race. Trump had previously warned that if Honduras does not stop the "movement of migrant caravans from Central America to the United States," he would cut foreign aid to that country. Donald Trump referred to the presence of military forces to control the Mexico border as a "big step." The U.S. President told reporters at the White House on Tuesday that the issue of security should be added to NAFTA negotiations. He also criticized the "very bad" laws in the U.S. which, according to him, have "left the southern border of the country without adequate support." Donald Trump stated, "As long as we have the wall and sufficient security, we will guard our border with military forces." He added that he would discuss this idea with James Mattis, the Secretary of Defense, and others. The use of military forces in the border area with Mexico is not unprecedented. From 2006 to 2008, former President George W. Bush allowed National Guard forces to be deployed for intelligence operations at the Mexico border. In 2010, Barack Obama also ordered some National Guard forces to be stationed at the Mexico border to provide intelligence and operational assistance to border forces. Several members of Congress have criticized Trump's intention to send military forces to the Mexico border. Brian Schatz, a Democratic senator, tweeted that the deployment of military forces to the border should be conditional on congressional approval. Trump had threatened Congress that if it did not provide funding for the construction of the border wall with Mexico, he would not sign the annual budget bill. Despite this threat, Donald Trump signed the budget bill approved by Congress.