President Trump speaks on immigration and migrant caravan

The Latest on President Donald Trump’s stance on immigration (all times local):

4:40 p.m.

President Donald Trump says asylum seekers must go to ports of entry to make a claim. He says he will issue an executive order next week on immigration.

In a lengthy speech Thursday, Trump said migrants are abusing the asylum system and making a “mockery” of immigration laws.

Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, migrants claiming asylum are allowed to do so at the border crossings, but also if they cross illegally.

Trump reiterated that he wanted to set up “tent cities” to hold people coming to the U.S., including those seeking asylum. But there currently is not enough detention space to hold families who are coming across the border. The military is working to create space, but nothing has been finalized. And laws prevent children from being detained beyond 20 days.

President Donald Trump says the number of military troops deployed to the U.S.-Mexican border could go as high as 15,000. (Oct. 31)

4:10 p.m.

A U.S. official says the first 100 or so active-duty troops have arrived at the U.S.-Mexican border, to provide support for border patrol agents as a caravan of migrants slowly makes its way north.

The troops are doing initial assessments at the port of entry in McAllen, Texas. The official says there are about 2,600 U.S. troops now at staging bases, mainly in Texas, with several thousand more expected to flow in through the weekend and move into California and Arizona.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet released.

The Pentagon says more than 7,000 active-duty troops are being sent to the Southwest border, with more possible. President Donald Trump has said the number could reach 15,000.

The caravan of migrants is still hundreds of miles from the border.