President Trump Donald John TrumpGiuliani says he confirmed Trump ‘never’ spoke with Cohen about congressional testimony Russian pop star linked to Trump Tower meeting cancels US tour Harris after announcing presidential run says her 'highest priority' is protecting Mueller probe MORE on Monday said that the U.S. will begin to cut off or reduce aid to Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador as citizens of those countries flee for the U.S. as part of a so-called caravan of migrants. 
 
 In a trio of tweets, the president escalated his rhetoric surrounding the group of migrants, declaring a national emergency as they approach the border and claiming that "unknown Middle Easterners" had joined the group. 
 
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 Trump, in the tweets, did not offer any evidence for the charge that people from the Middle East were among those crossing the border. 
 
 "Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador were not able to do the job of stopping people from leaving their country and coming illegally to the U.S. We will now begin cutting off, or substantially reducing, the massive foreign aid routinely given to them," Trump wrote in a tweet. 
 
 "Sadly, it looks like Mexico’s Police and Military are unable to stop the Caravan heading to the Southern Border of the United States. Criminals and unknown Middle Easterners are mixed in. I have alerted Border Patrol and Military that this is a National [Emergency]. Must change laws!" 
 
 Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador were not able to do the job of stopping people from leaving their country and coming illegally to the U.S. We will now begin cutting off, or substantially reducing, the massive foreign aid routinely given to them. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2018 
 
 Sadly, it looks like Mexico’s Police and Military are unable to stop the Caravan heading to the Southern Border of the United States. Criminals and unknown Middle Easterners are mixed in. I have alerted Border Patrol and Military that this is a National Emergy. Must change laws! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2018 
 
 Trump had previously threatened to cut off aid to those countries if they did not act to stop their citizens from fleeing. It's unclear if Trump will take unilateral action to reduce foreign aid, as Congress is not scheduled to return to Washington until after the midterm elections. 
 
 Experts have noted that human rights laws restrict actions a government can take to prevent its citizens from leaving its borders. 
 
 The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill about plans to cut foreign aid or to declare a national emergency. 
 
 Trump's suggestion that Middle Easterners had joined the group came shortly after a guest on "Fox & Friends" raised the specter of ISIS fighters embedding themselves in the group. The guest, Peter Hegseth, cited quotes attributed to Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales but acknowledged the claims have not been verified. 
 
 The president is known to watch the show regularly and often comment about segments on Twitter. 
 
 Trump has for days characterized the caravan as a horde of criminals in cahoots with the Democrats while providing no evidence for his claims. 
 
 "Every time you see a Caravan, or people illegally coming, or attempting to come, into our Country illegally, think of and blame the Democrats for not giving us the votes to change our pathetic Immigration Laws! Remember the Midterms! So unfair to those who come in legally," Trump tweeted Monday. 
 
 Every time you see a Caravan, or people illegally coming, or attempting to come, into our Country illegally, think of and blame the Democrats for not giving us the votes to change our pathetic Immigration Laws! Remember the Midterms! So unfair to those who come in legally. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2018 
 
 The caravan of thousands crossed into Mexico over the weekend, continuing their journey toward the U.S. border in search of asylum. 
 
 The group swelled to close to 5,000, The Associated Press reported, after an initial group of 2,000 crossed the Guatemala-Mexico border rather than waiting for asylum processing there. 
 
 The president has pointed to the caravan to stoke fear of an influx of undocumented immigrants and to blame Democrats for failing to pass stronger immigration laws, despite Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress. 
 
 Trump last week warned that he may take military action to stop immigrants from crossing the southern border if Mexico does not take action to stop the "onslaught." 
 
 A series of bipartisan immigration bills failed to garner enough votes in the Senate earlier this year, including one bill backed by the White House. ||||| President Trump Donald John TrumpWhite House: Pelosi's plan to reopen the government 'a non-starter' Warren pledges to donate salary during shutdown Trump campaign manager hits back at Romney over op-ed slamming president's character MORE on Thursday threatened to close off the southern border, telling reporters that he would "close entry into the country" if immigration gets "uncontrollable." 
 
 "If we find that it gets to a level where we’re going to lose control or people are going to start getting hurt, we will close entry into the country for a period of time until we can get it under control," he said. 
 
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 Trump added that he meant the "whole border," though he appeared to be referring only to the southern border. 
 
 “We’re either going to have a border or we’re not," he said, adding that Mexico wouldn't "be able to sell their cars" into the U.S. 
 
 Trump also claimed that the U.S. closed the border earlier this week, though it was unclear what he was referring to. 
 
 Earlier this week traffic lanes near a key port of entry in San Diego were temporarily shut down. 
 
 “Two days ago, we closed the border. We actually just closed it," Trump said. "We said, ‘Nobody’s coming in.’ Because it’s out of control.” 
 
 Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen Kirstjen Michele NielsenImmigration strategy for House Democrats: legislate and investigate Kelly blames Sessions for family separations Trump’s shifting Cabinet to introduce new faces MORE said Monday that the lanes were shut down because a large number of migrants were planning to "rush the border." 
 
 Earlier this month, the Pentagon deployed roughly 5,800 troops to the border at the request of Trump. 
 
 The president has claimed that a group of Central American asylum seekers traveling through Mexico and toward the U.S. border present a national security threat. 
 
 "You're dealing with a minimum of 500 serious criminals, so I'm not going to let the military be taken of advantage of," Trump said Thursday. "I have no choice. Do I want that to happen? Absolutely not. You're dealing with rough people." 
 
 Homeland Security Department officials had said in a conference call with reporters earlier this week that they had identified 500 criminals traveling in the caravan, The New York Times reported. 
 
 Trump also confirmed Thursday that he had authorized troops at the border to use force against immigrants if necessary. ||||| LISTEN TO ARTICLE 2:14 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Share Tweet Post Email 
 
 Photographer: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photographer: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP 
 
 President Donald Trump’s chief of staff and his national security adviser engaged in a heated argument outside the Oval Office on Thursday, according to three people familiar with the episode. 
 
 The chief of staff, John Kelly, and the national security adviser, John Bolton, fought over immigration and border crossings, including the performance of the Homeland Security Department under Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, one person familiar with the matter said. She was at the White House for meetings on Thursday, but the people disagreed about whether she witnessed the argument. 
 
 Bolton criticized DHS, and Kelly defended Nielsen, a former deputy whom he supported to replace him at the department. Two people described the exchange as less a shouting match than an intense argument. Kelly then stormed away, so upset that he uttered some profanities. 
 
 Bolton and Nielsen had a good conversation after Kelly and Bolton’s argument, a White House official said. Both believe the goal is to protect the border, the official said. 
 
 Trump has lately expressed fury about a large group of migrants who are traveling from Honduras toward the U.S. border. He vowed Thursday to deploy the military and shut down the Mexican border unless the migrants are turned back. 
 
 ....In addition to stopping all payments to these countries, which seem to have almost no control over their population, I must, in the strongest of terms, ask Mexico to stop this onslaught - and if unable to do so I will call up the U.S. Military and CLOSE OUR SOUTHERN BORDER!.. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 18, 2018 
 
 The clash is an indication that tension is flaring in the White House 19 days before midterm elections in which Republican control of Congress is at stake. The shouting match was so intense that other White House aides worried one of the two men might immediately resign. Neither of the men is resigning, the people said. 
 
 Trump is aware of the argument, the people said, even though the president told reporters he didn’t know about it before boarding Air Force One to travel to Montana for a campaign rally. He has recently sought to make immigration a more prominent political issue, blaming Democrats for increased numbers of migrants crossing the border. 
 
 After the confrontation was reported, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a statement indicating that there are no hard feelings among the president’s senior advisers. The statement didn’t address the specific details of the argument. 
 
 “While we are passionate about solving the issue of illegal immigration, we are not angry at one another,” Sanders said, adding “our Administration is doing a great job on the border.” ||||| Breaking News Emails Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings. 
 
 / Updated By Adam Edelman and Mosheh Gains 
 
 The Department of Homeland Security has requested additional troops for the U.S. border as a migrant caravan approaches and reports are that 800 personnel could be deployed. 
 
 The troops are likely going to be active duty but a final determination has not yet been made, nor on the exact number that will be sent, a U.S. official told NBC News. The troops are expected to be in place by the end of the month. 
 
 The news of 800 troops was first reported by CNN, based on several administration officials, and confirmed by the Associated Press. 
 
 Earlier Thursday, Trump tweeted that he was "bringing out the military" to stop people from crossing the southern border into the U.S. The president has referred to the border situation as a national emergency. 
 
 CNN reported an order authorizing the deployment could be signed as soon as Thursday. 
 
 The move comes 12 days ahead of the midterm election on Nov. 6 and as Trump has been escalating his immigration rhetoric at multiple campaign rallies each week. The president has said that immigration and border security is one of the most important issues of the campaign. 
 
 The troops will not be in riot gear, but will be behind the scenes providing logistical support to Customs and Border Protection officers, the official said. There are currently about 2,100 National Guard members working along the border to support border authorities. There will also be medical personnel sent to the border as well to provide support to CBP officers, the official said. 
 
 As of Wednesday, the caravan of several thousand from Honduras was in Huixtla, Mexico, more than 1,000 miles away from the U.S. border. 
 
 "Wait until you see what we do with the border (in the) next few weeks," Trump said Wednesday night at a campaign rally in Wisconsin. "Started the wall, have another $1.6 billion, want to build it, wait 'til you see what happens...You're gonna see a very secure border. The military is ready; they're all set." 
 
 The president's tweet Thursday morning referenced comments made by Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, on "Fox and Friends." Judd, a frequent guest on Fox News Channel, is the union representative for about 16,000 border patrol agents. 
 
 "Brandon Judd of the National Border Patrol Council is right when he says on @foxandfriends that the Democrat inspired laws make it tough for us to stop people at the Border," Trump tweeted. 
 
 Trump added, "MUST BE CHANDED, but I am bringing out the military for this National Emergency. They will be stopped!" he added, appearing to misspell "changed." Later, in another tweet, he advised "those in the Caravan" to "turnaround" because "we are not letting people into the United States illegally." 
 
 Trump has tweeted repeatedly in recent days about illegal immigration and the migrant caravan heading north through Mexico. 
 
 On Monday, Trump had tweeted, without evidence, that, "Criminals and unknown Middle Easterners are mixed in" in the caravan and that he had "alerted Border Patrol and Military that" it was a national emergency. Trump later admitted he had "no proof," to support the claim. ||||| President Donald Trump stops to talk to members of the media before walking across the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, Oct. 22, 2018, to board Marine One helicopter for a short trip to Andrews Air Force Base, Md., en route to Houston. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) 
 
 WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump declared Monday the U.S. will begin cutting aid to three Central American countries he accused of failing to stop thousands of migrants heading for the U.S. border. But across his administration there was no indication of any action in response to what he tweeted was a “National Emergy.” 
 
 For hours on Monday, White House officials were unable to provide an explanation for the president’s threats, which reflected both his apparent frustration with the migrant caravan and his determination to transform it into Republican election gains. Federal agencies said they’d received no guidance on the president’s declaration, issued as he attempts to make illegal immigration a focus of next month’s midterm elections. 
 
 If Trump should follow through with his threat to end or greatly reduce U.S. aid, that could worsen the poverty and violence that are a root cause of the migration he has been railing against, critics said. 
 
 Trump tweeted, “Sadly, it looks like Mexico’s Police and Military are unable to stop the Caravan heading to the Southern Border of the United States.” He added without evidence that “criminals and unknown Middle Easterners are mixed in.” 
 
 “I have alerted Border Patrol and Military that this is a National Emergy,” he wrote. “Must change laws!” 
 
 Associated Press journalists traveling with the caravan for more than a week have spoken with Hondurans, Guatemalans and Salvadorans but have not met any of the “Middle Easterners” that Trump claimed had “mixed in” with the Central American migrants. It was clear, though, that more migrants were continuing to join the caravan. 
 
 Trump’s tweets marked the latest escalation of his efforts to thrust immigration politics into the national conversation in the closing weeks of the congressional elections. He and his senior aides have long believed the issue — which was a centerpiece of his winning presidential campaign — is key to revving up his base and motivating GOP voters to turn out in November. 
 
 “Blame the Democrats,” he wrote. “Remember the midterms.” 
 
 At a campaign rally in Houston on Monday night, he falsely accused Democrats of “encouraging millions of illegal aliens to break our laws, violate our borders and overwhelm our nation.” 
 
 Trump for months has sought to use foreign aid as a cudgel more broadly, threatening to withhold humanitarian and other aid from “enemies of America” and using it to pressure foreign governments to bend to his will. On Monday, he said he would be making good on his threat. 
 
 “Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador were not able to do the job of stopping people from leaving their country and coming illegally to the U.S. We will now begin cutting off, or substantially reducing, the massive foreign aid routinely given to them,” he wrote. 
 
 He added later at the White House: “We have been giving so much money to so many different countries for so long that it’s not fair and it’s not good. And then when we ask them to keep their people in their country, they’re unable to do it.” 
 
 However, it was unclear whether the president’s tweets had any policy implications. 
 
 A Pentagon spokesman, Army Lt. Col. Jamie Davis, said the Pentagon had received no new orders to provide troops for border security. And a State Department official said the agency had not been given any instructions on eliminating or reducing aid to Central American countries. 
 
 Last April, Defense Secretary James Mattis authorized up to 4,000 members of the National Guard to help the Department of Homeland Security with southern border security, and approximately 2,100 were sent under the control of border state governors. That number, Davis said, has not changed. 
 
 The Pentagon also said it was going ahead with plans to include Honduras among the South American nations that will be visited this fall by the USNS Comfort, a hospital ship that Mattis has dispatched to help relieve stress on medical care systems as a result of refugee flows from Venezuela. The Comfort began treating patients in Ecuador on Monday and is scheduled to make stops in Peru, Colombia and Honduras, according to Pentagon spokesman Col. Rob Manning. 
 
 “The deployment reflects the United States’ enduring promise of friendship, partnership and solidarity with the Americas,” Manning said. 
 
 Asked what the administration was doing to operationalize the president’s tweet, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters Monday evening that “we’re continuing to look at all options on the table.” 
 
 “The president wants to make sure we’re doing everything we can to secure and protect our borders and that’s exactly what he’s been talking about,” she said. 
 
 It is Congress, not the president, that appropriates aid money. The White House would have to notify Congress if it wanted to cut or reallocate aid, which could delay or complicate the process. 
 
 Rep. Eliot Engel, the top-ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Monday that “my colleagues and I will not stand idly by as this administration ignores congressional intent.” 
 
 The three countries received about $500 million from the U.S. in fiscal year 2017. That money funds programs that promote economic development and education, as well as supporting democracy and human rights, among other issues. It was not immediately clear how much money Trump now hopes to cut, though the administration already had been pushing to reduce the government’s global aid and foreign operations budget by about 30 percent for fiscal 2019 that began Oct 1. 
 
 Paul O’Brien, the vice president for policy and advocacy at Oxfam America, said that any attempts to decrease aid to the Central American countries would be “devastating” since the U.S. is a key investor in the region, funding programs on issues ranging from workforce development to reducing violence and improving human rights. In addition, other investors look to the U.S. as a guide. 
 
 “If you take that money away or you make it unpredictable, you’re actually going to foster the very conditions that are driving people toward migration,” said O’Brien, who accused Trump of “essentially seeking to use migrants as a political chip.” 
 
 Last month, Vice President Mike Pence said that over the last year alone more than 225,000 people from the three Central American countries had attempted to illegally enter the United States, accounting for more than half of those apprehended at the southern border. 
 
 Cutting aid could also undermine what the Trump administration has identified as a key foreign policy goal: challenging China’s emergence as a strategic rival in the region. 
 
 The governments of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador did not immediately respond to Trump’s threat. Jimmy Morales, president of Guatemala, planned to travel to Tecun Uman on his country’s border with Mexico late Monday. 
 
 On a three-day campaign swing to Western states last week, Trump raised alarm over thousands of migrants traveling through Mexico to the U.S. and threatened to seal off the U.S.-Mexico border if they weren’t stopped. 
 
 As the migrants continued their northward march about 900 miles (1,450 kilometers) from the U.S. border, Trump blamed Democrats for their movement — despite the fact that Republicans currently control the White House, the House and Senate. 
 
 “Every time you see a Caravan, or people illegally coming, or attempting to come, into our Country illegally, think of and blame the Democrats for not giving us the votes to change our pathetic Immigration Laws!” he wrote. 
 
 ___ 
 
 Associated Press writers Robert Burns, Matthew Pennington and Matthew Lee contributed to this report.
– President Trump said Thursday that he's ready to send the US military to the border to keep a caravan of mostly Honduran migrants out. In a series of tweets, Trump also reiterated threats to withhold financial aid to Central American nations, with particular attention to Mexico. "I must, in the strongest of terms, ask Mexico to stop this onslaught — and if unable to do so I will call up the U.S. Military and CLOSE OUR SOUTHERN BORDER!" the president wrote. He said border security surpassed any other issue in importance for him, including trade and the newly reformulated NAFTA pact known as USMCA. Trump also asserted that the caravan of immigrants includes "MANY CRIMINALS." The Washington Post suggests that Trump is especially irked because more immigrant parents than ever are reaching the border with children since the US stopped its policy of family separations over the summer. Border Patrol arrested nearly 17,000 family members in September, a record number that's up 80% from July. Trump has previously said he wants to beef up the military's presence along the border until a wall is in place, and he again faulted Democrats on the issue of immigration. "All Democrats fault for weak laws!" he wrote. But comments this week from Nancy Pelosi suggest her party won't be budging on the solution he wants most. "It happens to be like a manhood issue for the president, building a wall, and I'm not interested in that,” she said, per Roll Call.