Donald Trump threatens migrants who throw stones at US troops could be shot
- In a speech at the White House, Trump ratcheted up his attacks on the migrants
- Trump said people apprehended entering the US illegally would be held in tent cities on the Mexican border
US President Donald Trump said American soldiers on the border with Mexico may fire on migrants who commit violence and that people who cross into the country illegally would be detained in “massive” tent cities, as he sought to rev up his base ahead of elections next week.
In a speech at the White House on Thursday, Trump ratcheted up his attacks on the migrants, insisting without evidence that the impoverished families walking toward the US were violent invaders who will endanger Americans’ safety if they’re allowed into the country.
“They’ve overrun the Mexican police and they’ve overrun and hurt, badly, Mexican soldiers,” Trump said of so-called migrant “caravans” from Central America.
“They want to throw rocks at our military? Our military fights back. I told them: ‘Consider it a rifle’.”
While Trump tried to portray the caravans as a “crisis” the closest group is still hundreds of kilometres from the US border.
The speech was the latest effort by the president to stoke voters’ fears of immigration in hopes of boosting Republican turnout on Tuesday.