US President Donald Trump has said his administration is planning to “build tent cities” for the thousands of Central American migrants seeking asylum who are heading towards the Southern border.
Trump made the announcement during a Fox News interview on Monday night after the Pentagon announced it was deploying 5,200 active-duty troops to beef up security the country’s border with Mexico.
Trump has ratcheted up anti-migrant rhetoric ahead of crucial midterm congressional elections next week, calling the caravan of Central American migrants an “invasion.”
A new group of migrants has left El Salvador to join other United States-bound caravans of Central Americans mostly fleeing poverty and violence in their home countries.
Democrats and rights activists have said Trump is drawing on xenophobic and racist images in an effort to stoke anti-immigrant concerns among voters ahead of Election Day.
“If they apply for asylum, we’re going to…