by Emma R., Voice Of Europe:

A 30-foot (9m) metal fence spanning two miles has been constructed at the Mexico-US border. Sporting a plaque that boasted President Donald Trump’s name, it marks the first phase of a wall to block migrants from entering the US.

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said all options are being considered to stop people getting into the US illegally, and “migration is a crisis that has to be solved”. She also stated: “Let me be clear: Walls work.”

Section of Trump’s border wall unveiled in California https://t.co/JmyvgFIw19

— Fox News (@FoxNews) 27 October 2018

The Pentagon has approved a request for extra troops at the southern border, and the White House is looking at new border security measures, including a travel ban to block migrants from seeking asylum in the US.

The president has intensified his focus on immigration as the 6 November midterm elections get closer. The caravan of migrants is about 1,000 miles away but dwindling in size.

Mr Trump said this week: “I called up the military. We’re not letting them in, they ought to go back now because we’re not.”

Details about the military operation at the border have been revealed:

The Defence Department said the mission is authorised from 30 October to 15 December and will operate in border areas of California, Arizona and Texas.

The Pentagon said the military will be involved in erecting barricades and fencing and helicopters and planes would be deployed to move Border Patrol personnel, medical teams and patients.

However, troops will not be used to detain migrants.

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