Pentagon extends Mexico border mission until end of January

[December 05, 2018]    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has approved a request to extend the deployment of troops to the U.S. border with Mexico until the end of January, a U.S. official said on Tuesday, a move that had been largely expected.

U.S. Marines deploy concertina wire at the U.S. Mexico border in preparation for the arrival of a caravan of migrants at the San Ysidro border crossing in San Diego, California, U.S. November 15, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

The U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the support would include "limited aviation, engineering, medical, and military police capabilities." The current authorization was set to expire on Dec. 15.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Chris Reese)

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