Soldiers are beginning to install concertina wire and fencing along a stretch of the Rio Grande river in southwest Texas as Donald Trump prepares for the migrant 'invasion' from Central America.
Around 100 or so American troops from the 19th Engineer Battalion, based in Fort Knox, Kentucky have started to work on the fence for three days.
The soldiers are in Laredo, a busy border town overlooking a stretch of the Rio Grande river in southwest Texas, carrying out controversial orders from President Donald Trump.
He sent about 5,800 troops to the border to forestall the arrival of large groups of Central American migrants traveling through Mexico and towards the US.
Soldiers are beginning to install concertina wire and fencing along a stretch of the Rio Grande river in southwest Texas as Donald Trump prepares for the migrant 'invasion' from Central America
Soldiers (pictured) unloading a truck full of barbed and concertina-wire work to be deployed in a public park in Laredo, Texas
This move was decried by critics as a costly political stunt to galvanize supporters ahead of midterm elections earlier this month.
Before the election Trump called the matter a national emergency and warned that so-called migrant caravans were an 'invasion' with 'some very bad thugs and gang members'.
So far at least, the most visible aspect of Trump's deployment is the fence, a visible deterrent and physical obstacle to migrants, designed to corral would-be asylum seekers towards organized points of entry into the US.
Over the weekend, Lieutenant Alan Koepnick's platoon could be seen stringing concertina wire, which is built to snag clothing, along one edge of a quiet riverside park near downtown Laredo.
As families walked dogs, grilled sausages and relaxed, the soldiers mounted the wire, occasionally ripping their camouflaged uniforms on its metal barbs.
Koepnick said some Laredo residents had voiced disquiet about the fencing and the presence of US troops.
'But there's also been a lot of support, people coming in, vets shaking our hands, bringing us cakes, water, things like that,' Koepnick told AFP.
About 100 yards (meters) behind him, a group of people on the Mexican side of the river could be seen standing on the bank.
The soldiers are in Laredo carrying out controversial orders from President Donald Trump
A tractor shovels dirt as US authorities fill the Tijuana River with mounds and concertina wire, at the border line between Mexico and the United States
US authorities fill the Tijuana River with sand mounds and concertina wire, at the border line between Mexico and the United States
'You'll see people across the river cursing at us in Spanish, throwing bottles at us. But on this side it's more positive,' Koepnick said.
He and his soldiers were unarmed, but a group of armed military police officers stood by to provide 'force protection'.
Under US law, the military is not allowed to conduct domestic law enforcement in most cases, so soldiers here will not have any direct interactions with migrants.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis (left) has hit back at critics who say the Pentagon should not be doing Trump's (right) political bidding, saying 'we don't do stunts'
Trump created a media whirlwind by sounding the alarm about the migrant caravans before the November 6 elections.
He has mainly stopped raising it since, though last week he praised the military's work.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has hit back at critics who say the Pentagon should not be doing Trump's political bidding, saying 'we don't do stunts.'
He visited troops on the border last week and reiterated that their job in the short term was to assist under-resourced Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and put up physical obstacles.
But 'longer term, it's somewhat to be determined,' he said.
Demonstrators clash during a protest against migrants from Central America in Tijuana, Mexico today
Riot police hold their shields during a protest against migrants who are part of a caravan of thousands traveling en route to the United States
After some rank-and-file troops grumbled about the purpose of the mission to US media last week, they are now under strict instructions not to voice personal opinions to the press.
Several soldiers AFP spoke to said their time on the border provided valuable real-world training, albeit without the risks of combat.
'We have a very large group of brand-new soldiers and it's really good for them," Corporal Samuel Fletcher said, citing a chance for the green troops "to do real work and put their skills to use'.
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/11/19/troops-install-fencing-along-us-mexico-border-amid-migrant-invasion/
Main photo article Soldiers are beginning to install concertina wire and fencing along a stretch of the Rio Grande river in southwest Texas as Donald Trump prepares for the migrant ‘invasion’ from Central America.
Around 100 or so American troops from the 19th Engineer Battalion, based in Fort Knox, ...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/11/19/06/6366948-6404865-image-a-19_1542610297547.jpg
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