Mattis Visits Troops on US-Mexico Border, Says Mission ’Necessary’

Local Editor

US War Secretary James Mattis Wednesday visited troops deployed on the controversial mission saying that the military operation to harden the US-Mexico frontier was clearly necessary.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump ordered the deployment in the build-up to last week's midterm elections, with critics assailing the move as a costly political stunt to mobilize his conservative base.

According to Mattis, some 5,900 troops are now at the border. The mission could see upwards of about 9,000 active-duty and reserve troops.

The Pentagon chief said the military was needed to provide vital support to short-handed border patrol agents ahead of the anticipated arrival of large groups of migrants in so-called "caravans."

"I think that it's very clear that support to border police or Border Patrol is necessary right now," he told reporters traveling with him as he headed to Base Camp Donna in Texas.

Mattis said border agents need help with everything from laying barbed wire to being ferried around the frontier by helicopter, adding that the mission provided useful training to troops and enhanced their military readiness.

"We determined that the mission was absolutely legal," he added.

"It's obviously a moral and ethical mission to support our border patrolmen."

Critics said the deployment is a waste of money and is not needed, especially as its focus is on preventing a main caravan of migrants that might not even reach the border until after the mission wraps up on December 15.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team