Marine Veteran Rep. Ruben Gallego Blasts Trump’s Plan to Send U.S. Troops to the Border
WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump's announcement that he plans to deploy U.S. troops to the southern border:
"Once again, President Trump wants to use our brave men and women in uniform to send a divisive political message. Now he intends to employ our Armed Forces to advance his extreme anti-immigrant agenda, while wasting time, resources and money and depleting our military strength in areas of real danger. That's an insult to our troops and it will harm our military as an institution. Congress must stop this misguided scheme.
"The truth is our southwest border has never been more secure. Apprehensions are down significantly and border communities are among the safest in the nation. More importantly, we already have America's largest law enforcement agency – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) – patrolling our borders and guarding our ports-of-entry.
"Our military personnel don't have the right training or legal authorities for this mission. They shouldn't be diverted from the very real threats we face around the world to stand guard against dangers that exist only in President Trump's fevered imagination.
"Moreover, border communities don't want soldiers patrolling their streets. Donald Trump should heed their voices instead of those of the anti-immigrant extremists in his administration, like Stephen Miller, who have never served in uniform and don't have the best interests of our military or our country at heart."