Trump told US military to open fire on migrant caravan under one condition - and people are disgusted

President Donald Trump has said that if anyone from the migrant caravan throws rocks at military personnel at the US border then they can expect a lethal response.

It is believed that around 7,000 migrants from Guatemala are attempting to make their way into the US and are currently located in central Mexico.

The Mexican government has stated that they believe the number is closer to 3,600, with UNICEF adding that 2,300 children are estimated to be in the group.

Trump has already declared that he will be deploying members of the US military to the Mexican border to prevent the migrants from entering America, which he has called an "invasion."

Speaking to press in the Oval Office yesterday, Trump stated that despite reports that numbers in the caravan are decreasing and they appear to have no gang or terrorist affiliations, anyone throwing rocks or stones will be treated the same as someone with a firearm.

I hope there won't be that, but I will tell you this—anybody throwing rocks...we will consider that a firearm because there's not much difference when you get hit in the face with a rock

They're throwing rocks viciously and violently, we're not going to put up with that,

They want to throw rocks at our military, our military fights back. I told them to consider it a rifle.

 Because there's not much difference. When you get hit in the face with a rock. Which, as you know, it was very violent a few days ago. Very, very violent.

He also announced that the US would build 'tent cities' to house the migrants with the intention of keeping families and children together.

Trump's statements comes after there were violent clashes between the migrant with police on the Mexico-Guatemala border but also less than a week after a gunman opened fire on a synagogue in Pittsburgh, killing 11 people.

On Wednesday he also said on Twitter, that the "some very tough fighters" and "very bad thugs" are in the caravan and they should stop before they reach the border.

With this recent statement in mind, people have been responding to this new policy from Trump, the majority of which aren't impressed with his threats of violence.

Many commentators are unimpressed that he would use violent threats against a group which is mostly made up of women and children.

Army veteran, Charlotte Clymer, also pointed out how dangerous this command is.

Others were appalled that the President of the United States would make a demand of this nature.

Just to get a scope on the violence that Trump referenced at the Mexico-Guatemala border, CNN's Leyla Santiago reported that just two police officers were hit by stones and their injuries were "not serious or life-threatening."

HT Newsweek

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