President Trump unloaded on the Mexican government Wednesday morning, issuing a series of posts on social media blasting America’s bordering neighbor for “not doing nearly enough in apprehending and returning” illegal immigrants and suggesting that a recent alarming incident involving Mexican troops that took place on the U.S. side of the border was carried out “probably as a diversionary tactic for drug smugglers.”
“A very big Caravan of over 20,000 people started up through Mexico. It has been reduced in size by Mexico but is still coming. Mexico must apprehend the remainder or we will be forced to close that section of the Border & call up the Military. The Coyotes & Cartels have weapons!” Trump tweeted in the first of a series of border-related posts.
“Mexico’s Soldiers recently pulled guns on our National Guard Soldiers, probably as a diversionary tactic for drug smugglers on the Border,” he alleged. “Better not happen again! We are now sending ARMED SOLDIERS to the Border. Mexico is not doing nearly enough in apprehending & returning!”
U.S. defense officials revealed Friday that armed Mexican soldiers questioned two U.S. Army soldiers on the American side of the border — and disarmed one of them. Despite knowing the Mexican soldiers were in U.S territory, the Americans said they chose to initially comply in order to “de-escalate a potential volatile situation.”
“On April 13, 2019, at approximately 2 p.m. CDT, five to six Mexican military personnel questioned two U.S. Army soldiers who were conducting border support operations in an unmarked (Customs and Border Protection) vehicle near the southwest border in the vicinity of Clint, Texas,” U.S. Northern Command said in a press statement Friday.
“During the incident, the Mexican soldiers pointed their weapons at the US troops, removing a soldier’s sidearm and returning it to the unmarked US vehicle, the officials said,” CNN reported. Though the U.S. soldiers “were appropriately in US territory,” Northern Command said, they chose to initially comply to the Mexican troops in order to “de-escalate a potential volatile situation.”
“Though they were south of the border fence, US soldiers remained in US territory, north of the actual border,” Northern Command stressed. Reports suggest the Mexican military was likely confused about their location, since the border wall at that part of the Rio Grande is north of the border and the area features a dried-out riverbed, making it unclear where the border lies.
“After a brief discussion between the soldiers from the two nations, the Mexican military members departed the area,” Northern Command said. “The U.S. soldiers immediately contacted CBP, who responded quickly. Throughout the incident, the U.S. soldiers followed all established procedures and protocols.”
After posted more comments on the final report by Special Counsel Robert Mueller failing to “lay a glove” on him, Trump posted another border-themed tweet Wednesday morning, this time praising the work of border patrol and challenging Democrats to take action to secure the border.
“Can anyone comprehend what a GREAT job Border Patrol and Law Enforcement is doing on our Southern Border,” he wrote. “So far this year they have APPREHENDED 418,000 plus illegal immigrants, way up from last year. Mexico is doing very little for us. DEMS IN CONGRESS MUST ACT NOW!”
Related: Officials: Mexican Troops Disarmed American Soldiers On U.S. Side Of Border
