Trump Mulls Executive Order, Nielsen Says Troops Have No ‘Intention’ To Shoot Migrants

on June 20, 2018 in Washington, DC.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 20: Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen (L) listens as U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions after signing an executive order that will end the practice of separa... WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 20: Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen (L) listens as U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions after signing an executive order that will end the practice of separating family members who are apprehended while illegally entering the United States on June 20, 2018 in Washington, DC. The order would detain parents and children together. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Despite the spate of attempted bombings throughout the country, President Donald Trump and DHS have set their eyes firmly on the border and the “caravan” of Central American immigrants fleeing the violence and poverty of their home countries, still weeks away from the United States.

President Donald Trump is mulling an executive order to block the immigrants from entering the country, according to a Thursday Politico report. He is reportedly considering okaying legislation that would limit immigrants’ ability to seek asylum.

Per Politico, the executive action could mirror Trump’s travel ban, using the rationale that the migrants would be “detrimental to the interests of the United States.”

DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, meanwhile, is shoring up the groundwork for DOD Secretary Jim Mattis to deploy 800 more troops to the border.

“We do not have any intention right now to shoot at people, but they will be apprehended, however,” Nielsen said Thursday on Fox News. “But I also take my officer and agent, their own person safety, extraordinarily seriously. They do have the ability of force to defend themselves.”

“I will make it clear that we absolutely will not tolerate violence against a border patrol in this situation,” she continued. “I will not tolerate Mexicans or anybody else acting in a violent way towards our men and women on the border.”

Watch here:

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. Per Politico, the executive action could mirror Trump’s travel ban, using the rationale that the migrants would be “detrimental to the interests of the United States.”

    I wonder if Neal Katyal regrets endorsing Gorsuch.

    “We do not have any intention right now to shoot at people, but they will be apprehended, however,” Nielsen said Thursday on Fox News.

    bookmarking

  2. I want Kirstjen Nielsen begging her bread in the street. And that will STILL be better than she deserves.

  3. The Posse Comitatus Act forbids the use of the US Army for law enforcement purposes within the United States. So troops could not be used to apprehend people trying to enter. (Apparently, the act applies specifically only to the Army and, by amendment, the Air Force, but the Navy has adopted regulations embracing the concept, so no using the Marines. (But the US Coast and Geodetic Survey may still be available.)

  4. Avatar for pshah pshah says:

    Yeah, certainly no incitement here. Whatever could possibly give a right wing crazy the idea that’s it’s okay to shoot or send bombs at the other?

    Seeking asylum is legal by international as well as our own laws! This is simply insane.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

32 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for dr_coyote Avatar for old_curmudgeon Avatar for cervantes Avatar for downriverdem Avatar for steviedee111 Avatar for squirreltown Avatar for inversion Avatar for tacoma Avatar for sickneffintired Avatar for pmm080 Avatar for lastroth Avatar for tibetancowboy Avatar for mrf Avatar for zlohcuc Avatar for pshah Avatar for icarrion Avatar for somethinghappened Avatar for dannydorko Avatar for rmfrank Avatar for zillacop Avatar for chjim Avatar for mtw Avatar for rucleare

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: