WASHINGTON — The US Department of Homeland Security requested 1,000 additional soldiers to help manage the migrant crisis in Texas, the Pentagon said Monday, amid growing outcry over conditions in migrant detention facilities. Thousands of active duty and National Guard troops have already been deployed for months along the US-Mexico border to support immigration officials. "DHS requests authorization for 1,000 Texas National Guard members... to provide supplemental holding and Port of Entry (POE) enforcement support to CBP within the State of Texas," the statement said. They will also provide support at ports of entry and commercial airports in El Paso and Laredo, in order to improve border security and traffic flow. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been criticized after a report from its inspector general, a watchdog, last week warned about "dangerous overcrowding" in migrant detention facilities in Texas.

Source: Philippine Star July 09, 2019 04:07 UTC