In his inaugural interview as Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, in conversation with former colleague Will Cain, made it clear that the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will work in unison with the executive branch.
The primary focus will be to combat criminal gangs, human trafficking, and other severe crimes, which he categorically labeled as "unacceptable."
According to The Post Millennial, Hegseth stated, "[The] DoD and DHS are in complete partnership behind President Donald Trump's mission to secure the southern border. Everyone watching the show understands that responsibility was completely abdicated for four years under the Biden administration. We've seen an invasion of criminal gangs, of human trafficking, of drug trafficking, that's completely unacceptable." Hegseth's comments underscore the Trump administration's commitment to restoring the military's role in protecting the southern border, a shift from its long-standing supportive role to the DHS.
Hegseth further elaborated on the deployment of active-duty troops to the southern border, stating, "The President declares an emergency. Were committed to that. So, we've sent troops, both National Guard and reserve but also active-duty to the southern border, Marines to the southern border, both to assist in CBP and DHS in interdictions, but also to help fortify the border wall that President Biden allowed to become more dilapidated with gaps and now were filling in those gaps."
In a first, the DoD is also providing military aircraft, referred to as "gray tails," to support mass deportations. Hegseth explained, "As CBP finds criminal aspects and others who are here illegally, DoD is there to support exporting those folks to other countries." He emphasized that countries refusing to accept their deported citizens would face repercussions, as was recently demonstrated with Colombia.
Hegseth also suggested the use of Guantanamo Bay as a temporary holding facility for criminal illegals. He clarified, "Guantanamo Bay, Will, is a perfect place. I served there from 2004 until 2005. Americans think of Gitmo as the images you see on your screen, right, the detention facilities with folks from Taliban and al-Qaeda. That's one part of Guantanamo Bay. The other part of Guantanamo Bay, Will, is a naval station where it has long been for decades a mission of that naval station to provide for migrants and refugees and resettlement."
Hegseth's comments reflect a renewed commitment to border security under the Trump administration. The use of military resources to fortify the border and support mass deportations underscores this commitment. The suggestion of using Guantanamo Bay as a temporary holding facility for criminal illegals further emphasizes the administration's determination to address the issue of illegal immigration. The implications of these measures on the broader immigration policy and the country's relationship with its southern neighbors remain to be seen.
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