Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen Kirstjen Michele NielsenMore than million in DHS contracts awarded to firm of acting secretary's wife: report DHS IG won't investigate after watchdog said Wolf, Cuccinelli appointments violated law Appeals court sides with Trump over drawdown of immigrant protections MORE said Thursday that the U.S. Border Patrol has no intention "right now" of shooting at people who may try to forcibly enter the country's southern border.

"We do not have any intention right now to shoot at people," Nielsen said in an interview with Fox News. "They will be apprehended however."

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Nielsen added that she takes her officers' safety "extraordinarily seriously" and that they "of course" have the ability to defend themselves.

When asked if that meant that officers would shoot back if they were shot at, Nielsen replied, "no."

"We’d have to work through that. But I want to make clear we will absolutely not tolerate violence against Border Patrol in this situation," she said. "I will not tolerate Mexicans or anybody else acting in a violent way towards our men and women on the border."

.@SecNielsen on if caravan members risk being shot at if they force themselves across U.S. border: "We do not have any intention right now to shoot at people." #TheStory pic.twitter.com/Mi3ZpdsyPx — Fox News (@FoxNews) October 25, 2018

Her comments came the same day reports surfaced that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis was expected to sign an order sending about 800 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border.

The reports coincided with President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden says voters should choose who nominates Supreme Court justice Trump, Biden will not shake hands at first debate due to COVID-19 Pelosi: Trump Supreme Court pick 'threatens' Affordable Care Act MORE's statement on Thursday that he was "bringing out the military" to secure the southern border.

"I am bringing out the military for this National Emergency," Trump tweeted early Thursday morning. "They will be stopped!"

Trump has continued to escalate his rhetoric about immigration as a group of thousands of migrants fleeing violence in Central America advances towards the U.S.

Trump has said he will cut off or substantially reduce U.S. aid to Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras for their failure to stop the band of migrants from heading to the U.S.

A spokesman for the Pentagon said Thursday that the Defense Department expects to receive a request for assistance from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).