The 7,000 active duty military troops deployed to the southwest border under orders from President Trump aren’t likely to be shooting any migrants.
In fact, most won’t even be armed.
According to the Pentagon the only troops packing heat will be military police units, whose sole job will be to provide security for the unarmed troops.
“The only soldiers that are going to be armed during this mission are the soldiers that are providing force protection,” Col. Rob Manning, a Pentagon spokesman, said Monday.
The statement is the latest attempt by the Pentagon to clarify that the troops are not involved in any law enforcement activities, and instead will be building barriers and stringing barbed wire fencing to “harden” the border in support of the Customs and Border Protection agency.
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“This will be done using highly experienced and capable combat engineers in battalions with expertise in building temporary vehicle barriers, setting up fences, and operating heavy equipment,” Manning said, adding that the troops will also provide aerial surveillance to monitor activity along the border.
“Three medium-lift helicopter companies equipped with advanced optics and sensor systems will provide continuous situational awareness to those securing the border during day and night,” he said.
The Pentagon says the military police who are protecting the combat engineers, military aircraft, and other support personnel are highly trained and being given additional instruction in the event they encounter any migrants.
“There is no plan for them to come in direct contact with migrants or protesters,” Manning said. “They are going through a training in their staging bases to make sure that they are prepared for a range of scenarios.”
By the end of the day Monday the military expects to have 5,200 active duty troops near the border, with a total of 7,000 by the end of the week.
Manning said the military police would be protecting only other military personnel, not civilian authorities.
“It’s important to note that the soldiers that have weapons are trained, they’re disciplined, and they’re proficient and they’re professional as military policeman,” he said.
