Trump admin wants to send more troops to border to string concertina wire

NBC News ^ | Jan 3, 2018 | By Courtney Kube and Julia Ainsley

[11th_VA]

WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security has requested more U.S. troops to be deployed at the border to add 160 miles of concertina wire on top of existing border fencing, according to three U.S. officials.

If approved by Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan, the addition of troops to enhance the fencing could extend the military's current deployment at the border until the end of September, based on the rate of construction, according to two officials. The military mission, which began two months ago, was set to end on Jan. 31.

The fencing that is to be reinforced with concertina wire is not new. The troops currently deployed at the border have already added concertina wire at ports of entry in Arizona, Texas and California. The request for troops to add an extra 160 miles of wire was first reported by NPR.

Construction of new barriers at the border remains a matter of debate between President Trump and Democrats in Congress. The president has refused to approve any spending bill that does not include funds for a wall, which has led to the partial shutdown of the government.

DHS is requesting more military engineers to install the concertina wire, more aviation support to move troops around the area, medical personnel and surveillance equipment, according to two sources.

If the request is approved, the Pentagon will decide how many troops to send and whether they will be active duty or National Guard troops.

[TigersEye]

Now all juveniles have to looked at by an EMT or taken to the hospital for a doctor to check. Yes that is every juvenile caught no exception.

If that's the policy then it doesn't matter if they are injured or not does it?

[Electric Graffiti]

Good question...

[UCANSEE2]

Maybe ‘this’ is what the GOFUNDME money should be used for.

We could probably pay for enough wire to cover all the necessary areas.

[grumpygresh]

We need a wall, trenches, barbed wire, and a good parallel east-west access road, communications. Walls work as long as they are completed. Even the Maginot line could have worked if the French had extended it from the Luxembourg border to the Channel.

Just think of the money that will be saved on local law enforcement, schools, healthcare, food stamps.

[98charlie]

All that I am saying is that due to policy(two agents to hospital) that the wire is causing man power shortages. At the same time it might be deterring or slowing crossing. The point is that we need a better barrier that can not be easily climbed, tougher laws and to unite the hands of agents.

[11th_VA]

Thanks for your work - post any time

[oldasrocks]

Why waste time and money on wire? I could build the fence for what the wire costs.

[98charlie]

No, a border patrol emt can look at juveniles but if they sign off on one without sending them to the hospital and they die the agent is liable. The military medics at this time are not providing any kind of medical care where I work.

[Steven W.]

What I’ve seen is - at least in some places - they’re adding two more rolls along the bottom so there’s one on top and then 3 at the bottom. It’s funny how many troops POTUS has directed to these efforts and drawn out over time so that any single deployment is a repeated “ho-hum” even by friendlies like Ann Coulter and it’s been building with several increases / additional troops sent over past months, each time + team(s) with their own missions. That there & then + this here & now + TBD ;)

[Steven W.]

[98charlie]

As of right now at my station we only have wire at the top. Maybe that will change.

[cradle of freedom]

The Demonrats know what they want—a brand new America where there will be only one party—their party. They know Hispanics vote for them 70% of the time. If they get enough Hispanics the Demoncrats will be the majority party by a long shot. The Republican party will be a tiny powerless party and this will never be America again. We will have no rights. As a mother and a grandmother I say over my dead body!

[laplata]

Hell yes.

Have a Claymore for lunch, pendejo..

[Blue Jays]

"...razor wire..."

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The additional advantage of razor wire is that it can remain in place even after the adjacent primary border wall is completed.
The reality is that 95% of people do not even wish to walk too close to a rose bush with sharp thorns.
A thick string of razor wire in front of a formidable high wall will likely discourage 99.99% of people who even look at it from afar.

[fuente]

How about stringing 1000 miles, 20 foot high.

[central_va]

Is there a way to spin it constantly like a Cuisinart?

[laplata]

Thanks for what you do and for putting up with it all.

[Taxman]

What does SECDEF have to do with this?

POTUS is the Commander in Chief, and if he says “Do it,” they HAVE to do it!

[Blue Jays]

"...[they] want a brand new America where there will be only one party — their party..."

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Totally agree. We are in the struggle of our lifetimes.
It is not overly dramatic to say that had not President Trump been elected, our nation could have been several months into its collapse.
While not a religious person, there have been times where I have felt that President Trump was actually sent by divine intervention.

[Taxman]

Well, that task could certainly be done by a couple of Army privates!