A national guardsman has drawn scrutiny for comments made on Facebook, saying that immigrants crossing the US-Mexico border are "lucky we aren't executing them."
The comment was posted to an online fundraiser for the Texas-based Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services. The fundraiser calls to "Reunite an immigrant parent with their child," and has raised more than $20 million in donations since it began June 16th, aiming for a goal of $25 million.
The comments section of the page has become a forum where critics of President Trump's immigration policy gather. "Proud to have donated in choosing love over hate xo" says one. Others share news articles or resources to connect volunteers. "I speak Spanish and live in McAllen TX please put me to work. How can I help?" wrote another.
But with the outpouring of support for immigrants came its detractors.
"Waste of money," said one post by a man named Gerod Martin last Wednesday (the comment has since been deleted). According to The Oregonian, the Salem, Oregon man wrote, "They're lucky we aren't executing them."
The comments drew attention as Mr Martin's page featured pictures of him in military uniform. "Just a young buck serving his country," he wrote on his Facebook page. Mr Martin's social media pages have since been made private and appear to have been scrubbed.
The Oregon National Guard confirmed that Mr Martin has been a private first class with the guard since 2013, will "face punishment" for his comments about executing migrants, according to local news station KATU.
"You can't endorse any sort of political action while in uniform," said Major Stephen Bomar of the Oregon National Guard. "You always have to think before you post. Sometimes you can get caught up in the moment, but it's not an excuse."
"Even if he is not showing military uniform, that is just a horrific comment" Major Bomar told KATU.
Major Bomar did not specify what punishment Martin will face.
