About 10,000 U.S. navy service members are actually working alongside the U.S.-Mexico border as a part of a Trump administration surge, regardless of a lower within the variety of migrant crossings.
Scripps Information traveled to a piece of the border in Arizona with the U.S. Military to see the navy’s new mission inside the “Joint Job Power – Southern Border.”
“Their mission is to assist Customs and Border Patrol in controlling the U.S. Southern Border and preserving the territorial integrity of america,” stated Lt. Col. Lukas Berg.
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In a distant part of the border, Scripps Information noticed a Stryker—a navy personnel provider that’s often armed and deployed to conflict zones. This one was not armed as a result of it was solely being tasked with observing. Nonetheless, greater than 100 of them are actually stationed alongside the U.S. southern border in what seems to be a deterrent.
“That is actually what we’re doing with the Stryker out right here. It supplies us nice mobility to get troopers the place they have to be to watch on the border,” stated Lt. Col. Travis Stellfox.
“And what have troopers noticed from the Stryker right here alongside the border?” requested Scripps Information navy affairs correspondent Maya Rodriguez.
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“We have noticed a variety of actions that varies broadly by station,” stated Stellfox. “Largely, it is particular person or small teams of unlawful immigrants coming throughout the border – that is primarily what we have been capable of observe up to now.”
Commentary is all they have been doing at this level. Army officers instructed Scripps Information that once they observe migrants crossing the border, they notify Border Patrol, who can then intercept them.
When requested how migrants react once they see the Stryker, Stellfox stated, “Now we have an excellent portion of what we have noticed is what we name ‘flip backs,’ migrants who’re detected whereas crossing the border, after which, they both stop exercise, or they return throughout earlier than there’s any interplay.”
“It is a bit extra intimidating than a daily SUV that border patrol might need,” Rodriguez famous.
“That is truthful to say, ma’am,” Stellfox replied.
The navy stated they aren’t doing any regulation enforcement alongside the southern border and are staying firmly on the U.S. facet.
This comes although navy officers instructed Scripps Information that they’ve seen drones — operated by Mexican drug cartels — which might be observing U.S. navy personnel alongside the border.
“We’re aware of important reporting on that. That’s of great curiosity to us as a result of we’re working plane in the identical space,” stated Lt. Col Berg. “We’re observing, we’re monitoring, after which we’re passing these observations on to Customs and Border Patrol.”
U.S navy leaders instructed Scripps Information they haven’t engaged these cartel drones partly as a result of they do not have the authorization but to take action. Nonetheless, they are saying they do have the fitting to self-defense, and if any of these cartel drones threatened American troops alongside the border, the U.S. navy stated it could take motion.
Within the meantime, when requested a few timeline for the mission, navy officers stated it was open-ended, with no finish date at the moment in sight.
