Kirstjen Nielsen: US isn’t planning ‘right now’ to shoot at caravan migrants
by Diana Stancy Correll
| October 25, 2018 11:07 PM
The U.S. military, which is poised to send additional troops to the Southern border, is not planning to shoot at migrants caravaning from Central America if they enter the U.S., Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said in an interview that aired Thursday.
“We do not have any intention right now to shoot at people, but they will be apprehended, however,†Nielsen said during an interview with Fox News’ Martha MacCallum. “But I also take my officer and agent, their own person safety, extraordinarily seriously. They do have the ability of force to defend themselves.â€
The government will “have to work through†whether troops will be allowed to shoot back if migrants open fire first.
The comments from Nielsen come after reports the Pentagon is sending 800 troops, who are not legally allowed to use lethal force in law enforcement operations, to the U.S.-Mexican border to assist border agents.
It’s uncertain which troops will be sent to the border, but it’s expected that the troops will primarily consist of engineers and doctors who can supply equipment and help in labor projects. However, the troops are projected to arrive next week to prepare for thousands of migrants who are headed for the Southern border.
The U.S.' and Mexico’s original plan for dealing with the migrants fell through after the group destroyed border fences separating Guatemala and Mexico.
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