For the first time in 21 years, troops from the US army will be deployed to the border with Mexico.
The Department of Defense announced on Monday the start of the operation “Faithful Patriot” that will include the deployment of 5,200 active soldiers armed to “toughen” the border with Mexico and prevent the entry of undocumented immigrants.
Since 1997, the United States had used only National Guard soldiers in different missions to serve as the eyes and ears of the Border Patrol, with the authorization of the governors of various states, mainly those located along the border with Mexico.
The army and the United States Marine Corps suspended their border operations following two incidents in May 1997, one of which had fatal consequences.
In January 1997, a Navy soldier who worked with Border Patrol agents near Brownsville, Texas, shot an undocumented immigrant in the back.
It was the first time that a serving member of the US armed forces fired on a civilian inside US territory, since the acts of protest against the Vietnam War recorded at the Kent State University in 1970.
The action aroused strong criticism against military surveillance of the border, but the voices of protest could not prevent more blood from spilling.
In May, sailor Clemente Bañuelos, who headed a three-member camouflaged patrol, shot and killed Ezequiel Hernández, a high school student who pastured his family’s goats near the border community of Redford, Texas.
The incidents of 1997 were used by groups of activists in favor of civil rights and immigrants, to form a movement against the militarization of the border.
The deployments that have taken place since then have been only with elements of the National Guard, under the control of state governments, and unarmed.
Last Friday, Defense Secretary James Mattis approved the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) request for the deployment of troops to the border in support of immigration authorities.
On Monday, the Department of Defense announced the start of the operation “Faithful Patriot.”
The troops are being sent as a result of the caravan of Central American migrants who are heading to the United States and will offer assistance in planning, as well as engineering, in tasks such as the removal of temporary barriers, barricades, and fences.
Soldiers will support Border Patrol agents with transportation, shelters, barriers, and logistics but will not be in charge of arrests or deportations and will be additional to the 2,092 elements of the National Guard that were deployed earlier this year.
Human rights activists have warned that the friction of undocumented immigrants with soldiers trained to respond to situations only with the use of weapons, could provoke bloodshed.
Under international law and migrant rights bill signed by the U.S., anyone seeking asylum has the right to do so at a countries border, although the Trump administration has threatened migrants and Mexico if the migrants were to make it to the U.S. border to exercise their rights under International and U.S. laws.
Trending News on PVDN
Popocatépetl Volcano Exhibits Increased Activity; Yellow Phase 3 Alert Continues PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) - In the past 24 hours, heightened activity was recorded from Mexico's Popocatépetl volcano, with an alarming 315 exhalations detected, accompanied by water vapor, other volcanic gases, and ash, according to the Scientific Advisory Committee (CCA) of the National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC). Monitoring systems in place around the active stratovolcano also…
‘Kingdoms of Mexico’ Distinction Launches to Boost Tourist Destinations With European Influences Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) - Miguel Torruco Marqués, the head of the Ministry of Tourism (Sectur), introduced the new 'Kingdoms of Mexico' distinction, a major initiative designed to enhance the appeal of Mexico's tourist communities on an international level. The announcement came during a presentation attended by the governors of Tlaxcala, Lorena Cuéllar Cisneros; Baja California,…
Puerto Vallarta Set to Celebrate 105th Anniversary as Municipality and 55th as a City with Grand Festivities PUERTO VALLARTA - The coastal paradise of Puerto Vallarta is poised to celebrate two landmark anniversaries: the 105th anniversary of its recognition as a municipality and the 55th anniversary of its elevation to city status, with a grand commemoration on May 31, 2023. The celebrations have been meticulously planned by the municipal government led by…
Popocatépetl Volcano Resumes Activity; Authorities Maintain Alert Status PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) - After a period of relative calm last week, Mexico's Popocatépetl volcano resumed minor activity on Friday night and through Saturday night, as reported by the National Civil Protection Coordination (CNPC). This comes following significant explosions last weekend that put nearby communities on high alert. The resumed activity was characterized by minor…
Two More Puerto Vallarta Beaches Are Awarded Blue Flags Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) - In the upcoming 2023-2024 season, Puerto Vallarta is set to host six beaches awarded with the Blue Flag accreditation, an esteemed international recognition for high environmental and quality standards. The Blue Flag committee has reconfirmed the status for four previously certified beaches while conferring this prestigious title to two new beaches…
LGBTIQ+ Community Member Disappears At Puerto Vallarta Pride PUERTO VALLARTA - A member of the local LGBTIQ+ community has gone missing under mysterious circumstances, inciting deep concern within the community and calls for immediate action from local authorities. Rubén Michel Castro Guizar, 32, a deaf individual, was last seen on the night of Thursday, May 25th, attending the Vallarta Pride march. His disappearance…
SEAPAL Vallarta Launches New Vallarta II Tank to Reinforce Drinking Water Supply PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) - SEAPAL Vallarta, the local water management authority, announced the successful integration and activation of the new Vallarta II Tank to its drinking water distribution system on Tuesday, May 30. This strategic addition is expected to enhance the availability of water in Vallarta homes, a pressing issue in the wake of the…
Trans Fats Ban in Mexico Will Prohibit the Sale of Cookies, Chips, Pizzas, and More in September Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) - The Chamber of Deputies in Mexico has taken a critical step in the battle against heart disease, approving a decree that reforms the General Health Law to restrict the use of trans fats and oils. The move is predicted to save more than 13,000 lives per year, with these substances currently…
Shocking Case of Animal Abuse in Mexico: Man Throws Dog into Boiling Fry Oil PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) - A disturbing incident of animal abuse has sent shockwaves throughout Mexico, as a man allegedly threw a dog into a pot of boiling oil, resulting in the animal's tragic death. Authorities have detained the suspect for the assault on the dog and have issued an additional arrest warrant on charges of…
Mothers Searching For Their Missing Children Uncover Presumed Clandesant Grave in Puerto Vallarta PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) - A team of mothers seeking their missing children made a chilling discovery on the outskirts of Puerto Vallarta Saturday afternoon: a skeleton, fragments of bones, and several indications pointing towards a potential site of illegal body disposal. The area of discovery, located near the road to Viejo el Veladero, close to…
