WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon said it’s sending 5,200 troops to the Southwest border in an extraordinary military operation ordered up just a week before midterm elections in which President Donald Trump has put a sharp focus on Central American migrants moving north in slow-moving caravans that are still hundreds of miles from the U.S.

Kansas Guardsmen will also be sent to Arizona to work with the Arizona National Guard currently supporting Customs Border Patrol Southwest Border Operations.  

The number of troops being deployed is more than double the 2,000 who are in Syria fighting the Islamic State group.

Trump, eager to keep voters focused on illegal immigration in the lead-up to the elections, stepped up his dire warnings about the caravans, tweeting, “This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!”

But any migrants who complete the long trek to the southern U.S. border already face major hurdles — both physical and bureaucratic — to being allowed into the United States.

In an interview Monday, Trump said the U.S. would build “tent cities” for asylum seekers.

“We’re going to put tents up all over the place,” told Fox News Channel’s Laura Ingraham. “They’re going to be very nice and they’re going to wait and if they don’t get asylum, they get out.”

Under current protocol, migrants who clear an initial screening are often released until their cases are decided in immigration court, which can take several years.

Trump denied his focus on the caravan is intended to help Republicans in next week’s midterms, saying, “This has nothing to do with elections.”

The Pentagon’s “Operation Faithful Patriot” was described by the commander of U.S. Northern Command as an effort to help Customs and Border Protection “harden the southern border” by stiffening defenses at and near legal entry points. Advanced helicopters will allow border protection agents to swoop down on migrants trying to cross illegally, said Air Force Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy.

Troops planned to bring heavy concertina wiring to unspool across open spaces between ports.

“We will not allow a large group to enter the U.S. in an unlawful and unsafe manner,” said Kevin McAleenan, commissioner of Customs and Border Protection.

Eight hundred troops already are on their way to southern Texas, O’Shaughnessy said, and their numbers will top 5,200 by week’s end. Some of the troops will be armed. He said troops would focus first on Texas, followed by Arizona and then California.

The troops will join the more than 2,000 National Guardsmen that Trump has already deployed to the border. It remained unclear Monday why the administration was choosing to send active-duty troops given that they will be limited to performing the same support functions the Guard already is doing.

The number of people in the first migrant caravan headed toward the U.S. has dwindled to about 4,000 from about 7,000 last week, though a second one was gaining steam and marked by violence. About 600 migrants in the second group tried to cross a bridge from Guatemala to Mexico en masse Monday. The riverbank standoff with Mexico police followed a more violent confrontation Sunday when the migrants used sticks and rocks against officers. One migrant was killed Sunday night by a head wound, but the cause was unclear.

The first group passed through the spot via the river — wading or on rafts — and was advancing through southern Mexico. That group appeared to begin as a collection of about 160 who decided to band together in Honduras for protection against the gangs who prey on migrants traveling alone and snowballed as the group moved north. They are mostly from Honduras, where it started, as well as El Salvador and Guatemala.

Another, smaller caravan earlier this year dwindled greatly as it passed through Mexico, with only about 200 making it to the California border.

Migrants are entitled under both U.S. and international law to apply for asylum. But there already is a bottleneck of would-be asylum seekers waiting at some U.S. border crossings to make their claims, some waiting as long as five weeks.

McAleenan said the aim of the operation was to deter migrants from crossing illegally, but he conceded his officers were overwhelmed by a surge of asylum seekers at border crossings. He also said Mexico was prepared to offer asylum to members of the caravan.

“If you’re already seeking asylum, you’ve been given a generous offer,” he said of Mexico. “We want to work with Mexico to manage that flow.”

The White House is also weighing additional border security measures, including blocking those traveling in the caravan from seeking legal asylum and preventing them from entering the U.S.

The military operation drew quick criticism.

“Sending active military forces to our southern border is not only a huge waste of taxpayer money, but an unnecessary course of action that will further terrorize and militarize our border communities,” said Shaw Drake of the American Civil Liberties Union’s border rights center at El Paso, Texas.

Military personnel are legally prohibited from engaging in immigration enforcement. The troops will include military police, combat engineers and others helping on the border.

The escalating rhetoric over the migrants and expected deployments come as the president has been trying to turn the caravans into a key election issue just days before elections that will determine whether Republicans maintain control of Congress.

“This will be the election of the caravans, the Kavanaughs, law and order, tax cuts, and you know what else? It’s going to be the election of common sense,” Trump said at a rally in Illinois on Saturday night.

On Monday, he tweeted without providing evidence, “Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border.”

“Please go back,” he urged them, “you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process. This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!”

It’s possible there are criminals mixed in, but Trump has not substantiated his claim that members of the MS-13 gang, in particular, are among them.

The troops are expected to perform a wide variety of functions such as transporting supplies for the Border Patrol, but not engage directly with migrants seeking to cross the border, officials said. One U.S. official said the troops will be sent initially to staging bases in California, Texas and Arizona while the CBP works out precisely where it wants the troops positioned. U.S. Transportation Command posted a video on its Facebook page Monday of a C-17 transport plane that it said was delivering Army equipment to the Southwest border in support of the operation.

The U.S. military has already begun delivering jersey barriers to the southern border in conjunction with the deployment plans.

————

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump and immigration (all times local):

The Defense Department says it’s sending 5,200 active duty troops to “harden” the southern border against a migrant caravan making its way through Mexico.

The Kansas National Guard is currently working with National Guard Bureau to identify soldiers and airmen to support the on-going mission requirements to the Southwest Border states.  

“We appreciate the men and women of our Kansas National Guard for the service they give to our state and nation when called upon,” said Gov. Jeff Colyer. “This assignment will be an important one for those who are selected, and we send them on this mission with the full support of our state.”

Kansas Guardsmen will be sent to Arizona to work with the Arizona National Guard currently supporting Customs Border Patrol Southwest Border Operations.  The exact duties that Kansas Guardsmen will be assigned to perform are not known at this time. 

Guardsmen who deploy in support of the SWB could potentially be gone from 60 days up to one year.  Currently, Kansas has one soldier supporting the New Mexico National Guard with its SWB operations.

 

WATCH LIVE: @DeptofDefense and @DHSGov brief reporters on #DOD Deployment to Southwest border. https://t.co/oy8ecdi6yU

— U.S. Dept of Defense (@DeptofDefense) October 29, 2018

Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy tells reporters that 800 soldiers were en route on Monday and that the remainder of the troops would be at the southwest border by the end of the week.

That’s in addition to the more than 2,000 members of the National Guard already providing assistance at the border now. Officials say the troops will provide “mission enhancing capabilities” and will be armed.

The announcement comes as President Donald Trump has been trying to focus on the caravan just a week before the midterm elections.

The migrant caravan has been moving slowly north from Central America and its numbers have been dwindling.

___

12:23 p.m.

Three U.S. officials say the number of military troops deployed to the southern border in support of the Customs and Border Patrol could be in the thousands.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a troop plan that was not yet completed and had not yet been approved by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.

The Wall Street Journal reported the planned deployment was likely to be much higher than officials had disclosed late last week when preliminary figures of 800 to 1,000 were cited. The Journal reported that the Pentagon plans to deploy 5,000 troops, mainly military police and engineers.

The troops are expected to perform a wide variety of functions such as transporting supplies for the Border Patrol, but not engage directly with migrants seeking to cross the border from Mexico, officials said.

___

11:29 a.m.

President Donald Trump is escalating his threats against a migrant caravan traveling to the U.S. border, labelling the effort an “invasion” and declaring the “Military is waiting for you.”

Trump tweeted Monday about the caravan of several thousand Central American migrants moving through Mexico, saying no one will be admitted “unless you go through the legal process.”

Trump also said the group includes “Gang Members and some very bad people.” He has made similar claims before without offering evidence.

The president has stepped up his focus on immigration in the days leading up to the midterm elections.

The Pentagon last week approved a request for additional troops at the southern border. The White House is also weighing additional border security measures.

____

12:44 a.m.

The U.S. military has already begun delivering jersey barriers to the southern border in conjunction with plans to deploy active duty troops there. That word comes from U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis as a caravan of Central Americans slowly heads across Mexico toward the United States.

Mattis told reporters traveling with him Sunday that details of the deployment are still being worked out but he should have them Sunday night. They will include exactly how many forces are needed. It was unclear when the details will be made public.

The additional troops will provide logistical and other support to the Border Patrol, and will bolster the efforts of the approximately 2,000 National Guard forces already there.

GLEN ROCK, N.J. (AP) — Dashcam video shows a highway worker narrowly dodging injury when a vehicle slammed into a Transportation Department pickup.

The video shows an SUV slamming into the New Jersey DOT truck parked on the side of a highway with its lights flashing on Saturday. The worker rolled across the road and was nearly hit by another vehicle, which had slowed down.

No one was seriously injured.

Glen Rock police released the footage to remind motorists that state law requires them to move over one lane or to slow down when approaching emergency or maintenance vehicles on the side of the road.

KANSAS CITY (AP) – A man who says he who was injured by another patient at a state-run mental health center in Kansas City is suing for $10 million.

The lawsuit filed on behalf of Daniel Garcia alleges staff at the Center for Behavioral Medicine knew the patient who assaulted him had committed other physical attacks. The lawsuit contends the center’s staff didn’t protect Garcia and other residents.

Garcia was punched on March 22, fracturing several facial bones. The lawsuit recounts three other violent incidents at the center allegedly involving Hughes. Police reports were taken on the three other assaults.

The resident, Nathaniel Hughes, is charged with first-degree assault in the Garcia case.

A Missouri Department of Mental Health spokeswoman said Monday the agency doesn’t comment on pending litigation.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A California man accused of making a hoax phone call that led police to fatally shoot an unarmed man in Wichita has told a federal court in Kansas that he intends to change his plea.

A court notice filed Monday shows 25-year-old Tyler R. Barriss is scheduled for a change-of-plea hearing Nov. 13 federal court in Wichita. He was indicted for conspiracy to make a false call, cyberstalking and other crimes.

Barriss allegedly called from Los Angeles to report a shooting and kidnapping at a Wichita home after online dispute over a video game between two gamers. A responding officer fatally shot 28-year-old Andrew Finch after he opened the door.

Barriss still faces separate state charges of involuntary manslaughter, giving a false alarm and interference with a law enforcement officer.

BUTLER COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 1p.m. Monday in Butler County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 International semi driven by Kenneth Corbett, 70, Abilene, was westbound on Kansas 196 just west of Shuman Road.

The semi struck a 2006 Toyota pickup driven by Courtney Hull, 31, Evergreen, Colorado, that was stopped at a construction zone.

The collision pushed the Toyota into a Chevy pickup driven by Robert W. Miller, 67, Madison and a 2011 GMC pickup driven by Steven Marlow, 62 Wichita, that were also stopped in the construction zone. The crash pushed the GMC pickup into a 2016 truck and 5th wheel trailer driven by Kay Good, 68, Tescott.

Hull and Miller were transported to Wesley Medical Center.
Corbett, Marlow and Good were not injured. All were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP. The crash shut down the highway in both directions for several hours, according to the KHP.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities have recovered the stolen inflatable colon missing from the University of Kansas Cancer Center.

According to Kansas City Police, after a tip, officers found the giant, inflatable, pilfered intestine in a vacant house in the 7100 block of Virginia. No one in custody yet. Investigation is continuing.

The 10-foot long, 150 pound inflatable was stolen earlier this month from the back of a pickup truck in Brookside. It’s valued at $4,000 and is owned by the Cancer Coalition, which hosts walking and running events under a campaign called “Get Your Rear In Gear.”

————

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — There is now a $1,000 award being offered for anyone who comes forward with information that leads to the return of the University of Kansas Cancer Center’s giant inflatable colon.

The American Society of Gastroenterology donated the reward money in hopes of returning the stolen colon.

The 10-foot long, 150 pound inflatable was stolen earlier this month from the back of a pickup truck in Brookside. It’s valued at $4,000 and is owned by the Cancer Coalition, which hosts walking and running events under a campaign called “Get Your Rear In Gear.”

The Cancer Coalition ships the inflatable colon across the country to help see in a unique way the progression of colon cancer.

KANSAS CITY – A Ghana native residing in Dumfries, Va., has been indicted by a federal grand jury for his role in wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies as part of a more than $5 million romance fraud scheme, according to the United State Attorney’s Office.

Henry N. Asomani, 33, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was charged in a six-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. That indictment was unsealed and made public  upon Asomani’s arrest and initial court appearance. Asomani remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing, which has not yet been scheduled.

According to the indictment, 13 victims lost a total of $5,075,569 in the wire fraud conspiracy over an approximately two-year period from Sept. 15, 2015, to Oct. 17, 2017. Asomani allegedly received a total of $2,993,354 from victims across the United States, including three victims in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Unknown co-conspirators targeted individuals through online dating websites with various romance frauds, the indictment says. The unknown co-conspirators impersonated individuals who were involved in businesses overseas. They convinced the victims that they needed funds to help with moving gold from a foreign country, orphanage expenses, and school and travel expenses. The co-conspirators told the victims they would share the profits when the gold was returned to the United States. In fact, none of the victims received any profit or received any gold from the co-conspirators.

For example, one victim who resides in Lee’s Summit, Mo., set up a profile on ChristianMingle.com following the death of her husband to brain cancer. In October 2015, an individual claiming to be “Larry B. White” initiated contact with her. Following numerous conversations by email and telephone, “White” convinced the victim to invest in a Ghana gold mine. “White” promised a 40 percent return on the investment of money. From November 2015 through January 2016, under the direction of “White,” the victim sent funds to multiple entities by check and wire totaling approximately $3,292,000. Of that amount, the indictment says, $2,292,000 was transferred to accounts controlled by Asomani. To date, the victim has not received any money or gold profits from “White.”

Another victim, who resides in Leawood, Kan., met “George Bill Parker” on Facebook. “Parker” convinced the victim to send funds for gold-related expenses, such as legal fees, customs, storage, farm-related expenses and ransom. “Parker” promised he would pay the victim back with money or gold. This victim had a total loss of approximately $800,000. Of that amount, the indictment says, the victim sent approximately $220,700 to accounts controlled by Asomani.

A third victim, who resides in Kansas City, Mo., met “Bradley Fischer” on ChristianMingle.com. “Fischer” convinced the victim to send funds for school expenses, travel expenses and to start a new life in Kansas City. On July 19, 2017, the victim wired $24,000 to Asomani’s bank account. “Fischer” promised to pay the victim back when he got to Kansas City.  To date, the victim has received $1,000 back from “Fischer.”

Other victims reside in New Jersey, Alaska, Oklahoma, Florida, Texas, Kansas and Iowa.

According to the indictment, Asomani wired $1,789,416 from his bank accounts in the United States to bank accounts in Ghana. He spent approximately $342,278 on auto purchases and auto- or shipping-related expenses. Asomani shipped 18 vehicles to Ghana, having a declared value of approximately $284,190.

The federal indictment charges Asomani with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and two counts of money laundering.

The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require Asomani to forfeit to the government any property derived from the proceeds of his alleged violation, including $2,993,354 and a 2019 silver Lexus NX300.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

MANHATTAN — A member of the Kansas State University football team was arrested Sunday in Manhattan.

Just after 6p.m. Sunday, police arrested Daquan Patton, 21, in the 1100 Block of Bluemont Avenue, for failure to appear, according to the Riley County Police Department arrest report.  He failed to pay an earlier speeding ticket, according to RCPD.

Patton is a red shirt junior linebacker from Cedar Park, Texas, according to the KSU football roster.

The KSU athletic department has not released a statement on the arrest.

SALINE COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident involving a car and a horse Saturday in Saline County.

Just after 8 p.m. a 1995 Mercury Sable driven by Patrick Milham, 78, Salina, was westbound on Country Club Road near Cunningham east of Salina, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan. The car struck a horse in the road.

A passenger in the car, Junior Radke, 93, Salina, was injured when the horse went through the vehicle’s windshield. Milham drove Radke to Salina Regional Health Center for treatment. The horse died at the scene according to Soldan.

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas attorney was sentenced Monday to 18 months in federal prison for concealing his assets and income in an effort to keep the Internal Revenue Service from collecting more than $132,000 in taxes he owed, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

The defendant also was ordered to pay restitution of slightly more than $202,000, which includes penalties and interest.

David B. Mandelbaum, 58, Leawood, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion. In his plea, he admitted he owed more than $132,000 from the 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010 tax years.

He concealed his assets and income from the IRS by setting up bank accounts under other identities and making false statements. He also kept personal money in a trust account that was supposed to include only funds belonging to clients, in order to hide that money from the IRS.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Inspired by how the GI Bill helped her father become the first in his family to go to college, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo unveiled a plan last year to offer free tuition at the state’s three public colleges.

The Legislature, despite being dominated by Raimondo’s fellow Democrats, was reluctant to support it, citing the cost. The governor ended up with a pilot program at just one of the colleges.

It wasn’t the only time her agenda had been frustrated by lawmakers from her own party.

“The fact of the matter is, every governor wishes the legislature would do everything they want,” Raimondo said. “But it doesn’t happen, you know. It’s the way it works.”

Raimondo’s experience is a cautionary tale for supporters of the record number of women, most of them Democrats, who are running for governor this year.

Even if many of them end up winning, it will not necessarily translate into a sea change in state priorities. In some cases, they will have to work with a legislature dominated by the opposing party or one that is politically divided. Even lawmakers of the same party can be difficult to herd in a certain direction.

Natural disasters, budget deficits or crises unforeseen on Election Day can quickly swamp an agenda.

Christine Todd Whitman got a firsthand taste of that as governor of New Jersey.

Despite delivering on a campaign promise to reduce personal income taxes, she nearly had her 1997 re-election derailed by a dispute over auto insurance rates.

Her fellow Republicans in the legislature torpedoed her plan to overhaul insurance regulations, which would have given cost breaks for motorists who were willing to give up their right to sue for pain and suffering after an accident. On the campaign trail, she was hammered by her Democratic opponent for failing to lower rates.

Whitman later worked with Democrats on another proposal that ultimately passed with bipartisan support.

“You are judged on what you get done,” Whitman said. “The executive branch is different from the legislative branch in that way. You can’t just talk about it; you have to deliver.”

Just six women are serving as governor and no more than nine have ever served as governor at the same time, a mark that was set more than a decade ago. More than half the states — 28 — have never elected a woman as governor.

This year, 60 women ran for governor in the primaries, with 16 advancing to the November election. All but four of those are Democrats.

The surge in women running for office has been fueled largely on the Democratic side by the 2016 presidential election and actions by the Trump administration and Republican-led Congress on health care, taxes, immigration, Supreme Court nominations and other issues. Expectations are high among activists that these women, if they win, will usher in sweeping changes at the state level.

But a governor’s job is often constrained by outside forces, and promises made on the campaign trail can be particularly hard to keep.

Medicaid expansion is one example. Democrats Stacey Abrams in Georgia and Laura Kelly in Kansas support expanding Medicaid coverage in their states to include more lower-income adults without children.

But the authority to expand Medicaid rests solely with lawmakers, and the legislatures in both states are likely to remain under the control of Republicans who largely oppose it. Medicaid expansion is one of the key parts of former President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul and has provided health coverage to roughly 12 million Americans in the 33 states that opted for it.

Abrams and Kelly said they will try to persuade their respective legislatures, nevertheless. Both are veteran lawmakers who have built relationships with Republicans over the years. Kelly said it’s her history of working across the aisle that will help her be successful if she becomes governor.

“I have 14 years of established relationships in the legislature and the confidence and the trust of my moderate Republican friends,” Kelly said. “They will be there when I am in the governor’s office.”

Even where their agenda might be thwarted, governors still retain the power to veto legislation they oppose.

In an email to supporters expressing frustration with then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court, Abrams cited the importance of stopping attempts to constrain abortion, marriage equality and voting access. She vowed to be a “firewall” and “fight every single day to make sure that Georgians’ hard-fought rights are not stripped away.”

In Michigan, Democratic candidate Gretchen Whitmer recalled a 2013 vote when she was in the legislature as an example of the type of legislation she might be able stop as governor.

Male Republican lawmakers were supporting a proposal requiring women to have separate insurance for abortions. Whitmer blasted the legislation, which eventually became law, saying her colleagues continued to “ignorantly and unnecessarily weigh in on important women’s health issues that they know nothing about.”

In her campaign against Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette, Whitmer says having more women involved in policy decisions will be better for both men and women. For example, she said everyone in a family benefits when a woman earns an equitable wage and has access to quality health care.

In Rhode Island, Raimondo’s disappointments have been balanced by a number of successes.

She said her experiences as a mother influenced some of her priorities as governor, such as successfully pushing for all-day kindergarten across the state and increasing access to pre-kindergarten after watching her children thrive in such programs.

“I think that that has made me a better governor,” Raimondo said. “I think the point is people deserve a governor who is going to fight for everybody.”

___

———

TOPEKA– Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide and want the public’s help to locate two suspects.

Just after 4:30p.m., Saturday, police were dispatched to 300 NW Grant APT 305 in Topeka on a possible medical call, according to Lt. Robert Simmons.

First responders found an 42-year-old Michelle Stadler deceased due to apparent blunt force trauma.

On Sunday after, detectives reported they located 2 possible persons of interest related to this crime including 54-year-old Frank George Rector and 34-year-old Luke A. Wabaunsee, according to Simmons.

Police released Rector and booked Wabaunsee in the  Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of first degree murder.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and are searching for a suspect.

Just before 2a.m. Sunday, police responded to a report of gunshots in the 1900 Block of East Diedrich in Haysville, according to a media release.

Officers found a large crowd leaving a party at a local venue after a fight. Officers found a man who had been shot and had died of his injuries, according to the release.  Police have reported no arrests and have not released the name of the 19-year-old victim.