Politics

WH Reportedly Wanted Troops To Build Detention Facilities At Border

The Pentagon denied the request, according to anonymous sources who spoke to Reuters.

WH Reportedly Wanted Troops To Build Detention Facilities At Border
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The White House reportedly planned to have members of the U.S. military build migrant detention facilities along the U.S.-Mexico border.   

But that idea was ultimately dropped after the Pentagon rejected a draft proposal of the request, according to anonymous U.S. officials who spoke to Reuters

The report came days after defense officials told CNN that the Trump administration wanted troops to act as law enforcement at the southern border — a request the Pentagon also denied. 

These alleged requests all come as several migrant caravans are making their way north. The Trump administration is deploying more than 7,000 active-duty troops to the border to help support current efforts by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

But as Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reiterated Monday, that extra military personnel will help with surveillance, reinforcing barriers, and providing medical support and temporary housing.

"There is no plan for U.S. military forces to be involved in the actual mission of denying people entry to the United States," Dunford said.

Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN