Secretary Mattis addresses White House order to protect Border Patrol

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis waits outside for Chinese Minister of Defense General Wei Fenghe to begin an arrival ceremony at the Pentagon, Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 8:00 AM PT – Thur. Nov. 22, 2018

Defense Secretary James Mattis speaks out on the presence of troops at the Southern border in the wake of the White House’s authorization of lethal force.
On Wednesday Mattis said President Trump saw ‘the need’ to back up Border Patrol and indicated the military is ‘sizing up’ the additional measures authorized.
He also estimated more than 5,700 federal troops are committed to the mission on the border right now.
Mattis asserted the president’s concern for the safety of Border Patrol personnel is valid.

“You saw were six Mexican policemen were injured according to The New York Times. I think it’s an accurate report. This down the Guatemalan border. So it is not an unreasonable concern on the part of the president that we may have to back up Border Patrol.” – Defense Secretary James Mattis

He went on to suggest the crowd control barriers and barbed wire implemented at the border are partly aimed at protecting Border Patrol.