The president further indicated his administration was weighing following through on prior threats to end foreign aid to the countries of origin of refugees traveling in the caravan. The present group of migrants, which number several thousand, are currently in southern Mexico traveling northward but also hail from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.
Earlier this week, the Pentagon announced that 5,200 US troops were being sent to the US states that border Mexico in anticipation of the caravan's arrival next month. It's presently unclear whether the last announcement represents an additional 15,000 troops or if it includes the 5,200 already announced.
Trump tweeted earlier Wednesday that there were "many more troops coming" to the US-Mexico border, which he called "sacred."
Our military is being mobilized at the Southern Border. Many more troops coming. We will NOT let these Caravans, which are also made up of some very bad thugs and gang members, into the U.S. Our Border is sacred, must come in legally. TURN AROUND!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2018
The present border was finalized in 1854, following the 1848 Mexican-American War, when the US seized roughly one-third of Mexico's territory. The Gadsden Purchase followed in 1854, in which the US bought unceded parts of modern Arizona and New Mexico from Mexico.
Trump further justified his position by representing the caravan of refugees as being effectively an army set on invading the US, claiming they had "fought back hard" against Mexican soldiers, who were "unable or unwilling to stop" the caravan.
The Caravans are made up of some very tough fighters and people. Fought back hard and viciously against Mexico at Northern Border before breaking through. Mexican soldiers hurt, were unable, or unwilling to stop Caravan. Should stop them before they reach our Border, but won’t!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2018
In addition to the deployment of soldiers, Axios leaked footage from an interview with Trump on Monday in which the president announced his intent to eliminate birthright citizenship, a constitutional principle by which all persons born on US soil automatically receive US citizenship. Trump later indicated he believed birthright was a motivating factor for migrants coming to the US.
