Trump authorized U.S Troops to use Lethal Force at U.S-Mexico Border

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The U.S administration has authorized military troops along the southern border to use lethal force if it becomes essential while assisting Border Patrol and U.S Customs & Border Protection officers. This move comes after the U.S President Donald Trump urged the military to send thousands of troops to the US-Mexico border following the arrival of a caravan of refugees and migrants traveling from Central America. White House chief of staff John Kelly has signed the cabinet order on Tuesday night regarding the threat of possible incidents of violence on the border.

This order gives permission for military personnel to perform those military protective activities that the secretary of defense determines are reasonably essential, including a show of lethal force, crowd control, temporary detention, and cursory search. The order was first reported by the Military Times. The U.S defense secretary, James Mattis said on Wednesday that he has now been equipped by the White House with the authority to do more with the troops. He added that he was waiting for a request from the Department of Homeland Security before deciding how to use that new authority.

Officials informed Reuters that the White House was also considering giving permission to U.S troops to medically screen all arriving migrants, in spite of the Pentagon previously saying it did not expect military forces to interact directly with migrants. But the military has resisted several of the administration’s requests throughout the region. Trump has also recently threatened to target the amendment-protected practice of birthright citizenship. It is a move that would almost certainly end up in lengthy court battles. The president also encouraged military troops during a televised statement to treat rocks thrown at them by migrants as firearms.