White House authorizes lethal force for the troops at the Mexico border

The White House gave troops stationed at the southern border the OK to use lethal force if necessary — a move that legal experts warn may violate the Posse Comitatus Act, which bars the military from being used for civilian law enforcement. The “cabinet order” was signed by White House chief of staff John Kelly — not President Trump — and authorizes “Department of Defense military personnel” to “perform those military protective activities that the Secretary of Defense determines are reasonably necessary” to protect border agents, the Military Times reported. That includes “a show or use of force (including lethal force, where necessary), crowd control, temporary detention and cursory search.” There are about 5,900 active-duty troops and 2,100 National Guard forces deployed to the Mexican border...MORE