Speaking from the White House Thursday afternoon, President Trump announced illegal aliens who are detained after crossing the southern border with Mexico will no longer be released into the interior of the United States. Instead, they will be detained until deportation.
"We're stopping people at the border," Trump said. "This is an invasion...We are building massive numbers of tents and we will hold them in tents."
According to current law, illegal aliens from Mexico can be detained and immediately deported. Illegal aliens from Central America are required to be released after 20 days in detention if they are traveling with children. Because the processing for illegal aliens -- claiming asylum or otherwise -- is lengthy, these individuals are released into the United States. Afterward, they rarely show up for court dates and start building their lives in neighborhoods across the country. Trump said that policy ends today and illegal aliens will be detained until they are fully processed to deportation.
President Trump's announcement comes as a number of caravans make their way from Central America, through Mexico and to the United States. It has been repeatedly confirmed violent actors make up some parts of the traveling population.
"These illegal caravans will not be allowed into the United States and they should turn back now because they're wasting their time. They should apply to come into our country. We want them to come into our country," Trump said. "No nation can allow itself to be overwhelmed by uncontrolled masses of people rushing their border."
He also said the administration will require all asylum seekers make claims at official ports of entry.
.@POTUS: "My administration is finalizing a plan to end the rampant abuse of our asylum system." pic.twitter.com/AA1iUKFosb
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 1, 2018
Earlier this week President Trump ordered 5800 U.S. troops to the border to assist Customs and Border protection. U.S. soldiers will be armed and President Trump warned caravan members against throwing rocks or using other force against them.
"These are tough people," Trump said about caravan members attacking Mexican soldiers and forcefully breaking through international borders. "They want to throw rocks at our military, we're going to fight back...I say consider it a rifle."
During his remarks, President Trump slammed Democrats for "stupid laws" he argues enable drug trafficking, human smuggling, violent activity and illegal immigration.
"I will fulfill my sacred obligation to defend the United States of America," Trump said. "We have no choice."