Coast Guard launches fleet of tactical boats on | Political News

The U.S. Coast Guard is sending more sources to the southern border on the Rio Grande River, the company said in a assertion.

The mission is understood as “Operation River Wall,” will add more boats on a 260-mile stretch of the river in southeastern Texas that makes up half of the U.S.-Mexico border to guarantee operational control of the border, said USCG. “U.S. Coast Guard is the best in the world at tactical boat operations and maritime interdiction at sea, along our coasts, and in riverine environments,” said Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, performing commander of the Coast Guard.

“Through Operation River Wall, the Coast Guard is controlling the U.S. southern border along the Rio Grande River in eastern Texas.” The Coast Guard said the transfer places more tactical groups and other sources in the realm to struggle against any doable drug smuggling.

Since the start of President Donald Trump‘s administration, the Coast Guard has reportedly “tripled” its presence and patrols along the southern border. The company has had a number of surge operations on the West Coast.

According to a press release from March, the Coast Guard has “diverted aircraft, cutters, small boats and crews under its operational control to the southern border, increasing the illegal alien apprehension rates by 75% with multiple smuggling attempts continuing to occur each night.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called Operation River Wall an “unprecedented mobilization” of Coast Guard boats in a assertion on Monday. The actual quantity of sources being deployed hasn’t been made public, but DHS said the operation is “beginning” with more than 100 boats and lots of of personnel.

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The Coast Guard said in a assertion that it has been deploying sources to the Rio Grande since Oct. 9. “President Trump delivered the most secure southern border in U.S. history in record time, and now, our goal is to make sure it stays that way for the long run,” said Noem.

“Now, Coast Guard Forces Rio Grande and Operation River Wall will be a force multiplier in defending against illegal immigration,” she said. Noem’s assertion comes as she was not too long ago criticized for buying two $172 million jets for her and other officers to use for journey during a authorities shutdown that has resulted in the furlough of 1000’s of federal staff.

The U.S. Coast Guard signed a contract with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation on Friday to purchase two G700 jets, according to public data. In a assertion, the Coast Guard said the planes will exchange ones as previous as 20 years and have been “experiencing several unplanned maintenance issues.”

Some Democrats, however, argue that the price of the posh jets doesn’t align with the funding requests issued by the DHS, raising issues about the source of the funds. “This contract award directly contradicts the acquisition strategy and operational needs for the USCG’s Long Range Command and Control Aircraft (LRCCA) fleet, as outlined by your Department to the Committee in May and again in September,” House Appropriations Committee rating member Rosa DeLauro and Rep. Lauren Underwood wrote in a letter to Noem.

“Worse, it reflects a continuing trend of self-aggrandizement in your tenure as Secretary,” the letter provides. “Your first priority should be to organize, train and equip a Coast Guard that is strong enough to meet today’s mission requirements. Instead, it appears your first priority is your own comfort.”