Trump: 'We Are Going To Be Guarding Our Border With Our Military'

“We are going to be guarding our border with our military. That’s a big step,” Trump told reporters gathered at the White House. “We cannot have people flowing into our country illegally, disappearing, and by the way never showing up for court.”

The President’s comments appear to take aim at current US policy which requires border agents to catch then release family units who arrive at the border from noncontiguous countries.

He also said he had spoken with Secretary of Defense James Mattis about the use of the military to guard the border.

In recent days, Trump has repeatedly tweeted about a caravan of illegal immigrants making their way from Honduras to the US border via Mexico. The President had threatened to end the NAFTA agreement if the Mexican government did not stop the caravan and to end U.S. aid to Honduras.

Mexican authorities responded to Trump’s Sunday threat to kill NAFTA by pledging to disband the caravan and allow some transmitters to apply for asylum in Mexico. The organizers, however, said many members of the group will continue marching north towards the US-Mexico border where, if they claim asylum and are with a family unit, they legally must be released into the interior of the country.

Asked to clarify his comments during a joint news conference, Trump said he is "preparing for the military to secure our border" and he would be attending a meeting on the topic of border security with Mattis and others "in a little while."

Mexico says it will disband the caravan of hundreds of Central American migrants traveling north, but will offer the most vulnerable members asylum.

Organizers, however, say some members will continue towards the US border. Follow @aflores for the latest. https://t.co/v497BJ0kmB pic.twitter.com/UUHUtWawjg

— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) April 3, 2018