Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, along with Trump border czar Tom Homan, paid a visit to the U.S. Southern border yesterday where he refused to rule out the unilateral use of military force against drug cartels inside Mexico. Hegseth told reporters he knows Trump “is in constant contact with the President of Mexico” and he had conversations with the “head of Defense and Navy.” The Mexican government is strongly opposed to any foreign military force being used on Mexican territory, since it would be a clear violation of their sovereignty.
“We want them to secure their own territory and sovereignty, but we reserve the right—should there not be an ability to police international and violent cartels—to protect our own sovereignty as well,” he said, reported Latin Times. “We hope Mexico will step up. We expect they will.”
Meanwhile, the migrant removal operation continues. Reuters reported that the first planeload of migrants was flown to the U.S. Guantanamo naval base last night. U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the military flight to Guantanamo Bay carried 9-10 immigrants. McLaughlin called them “highly dangerous criminal aliens” but declined to provide further details.
