Cuellar supports military at border, but must be used 'the right way'

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), whose district borders Mexico, said he supports President Trump’s decision to send 1,500 troops to the southern border.

He added, however, that the move is expensive and it’s important to utilize the military as effectively as possible.

“I support them, but keep in mind that they are limited as to what they can do,” Cuellar said in an interview on NewsNation’s “The Hill.”

“They don't have enforcement power,” he continued. “I don't want them to be sitting in cars or vehicles. I don't want them to be there with the joysticks on the cameras. I want them to do things that they can provide.”

Cuellar said military can help provide surveillance, assist with helicopters and provide certain temporary barriers.

“We just got to make sure that we use the military the right way because it's very expensive, very expensive to have them down there,” he said.

Cuellar said the military can help provide surveillance, assist with helicopters, and provide certain temporary barriers.

“I'd rather hire the Border Patrol agents,” he said. “And as you know, we have a problem trying to hire that. We put money for 22,000 new border patrol agents and we have not been able to hire that amount yet.”

The Associated Press reported Wednesday that acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses was expected to sign a release order sending up to 1,500 troops to help secure the southern border as Trump pushes to stem the tide of migrants entering the country.

The exact number of troops and which would be deployed was still fluid as of earlier Wednesday.

The Hill is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns NewsNation.

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