The Trump administration’s decision to keep thousands of troops deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border through the holidays is irresponsible and one more reason why the mission should be ended, Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., said in a statement Friday.
“To date, there has not been adequate justification for the use of our military personnel in this way, which is why I have questioned this decision from the beginning,” said Smith, who is expected to become House Armed Services chairman next month.
Earlier this week, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis approved the deployment extension from Dec. 15 to the end of January following a request from the Department of Homeland Security, which has been bolstering border security as thousands of Central American migrants arrive.
Smith, who will take the Armed Services chairman’s gavel from Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, said sending the military to the border to meet migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. is wrongheaded and instead the administration should focus on more judges and officials to process the claims.
“This continued expansion of the use of Department of Defense resources and personnel to fulfill the misguided immigration agenda of this administration, which is not part of the mission of the Department of Defense, must come to an end,” he said.
Smith called Trump’s references to a migrant invasion dangerous rhetoric that needlessly ratchets up tensions at the border.
About 5,900 active-duty troops were deployed to border states in the run-up to the midterms elections as so-called “caravans” of migrants walked north through Mexico. Another 2,100 National Guard troops have been stationed at the border since April after the president warned of an immigration crisis.
Last month, Customs and Border Patrol agents fired tear gas and clashed briefly with hundreds of migrants who rushed a border crossing in Tijuana. The military provides support to the CBP and has the authority to use lethal force but did not interact with the migrants during the clash.
