'We will not tolerate this lawlessness': America fights back hard against caravan migrants, including women and children, who stormed border and were met with tear gas and rubber bullets, as PRESIDENT shuts down Tijuana-San Diego crossing (41 Pics)

US Border Patrol shot tear gas and rubber bullets at a group of migrants, including toddlers, as members of the caravan tried to storm t...

US Border Patrol shot tear gas and rubber bullets at a group of migrants, including toddlers, as members of the caravan tried to storm the border.

Children were screaming and coughing in the mayhem at the San Ysidro Port of Entry when American agents tried to push the surging Central Americans back.

They started to use crowd control on Sunday afternoon when migrants tried to cut a hole in the concertina wire gap on the Mexican side of the fence.

The tensions prompted US officials to close the crossing between Tijuana and San Diego, stopping thousands of people travelling legitimately between the US and Mexico.

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said she would not put up with this 'lawlessness' and threatened harsh punishments on anyone who 'anyone who destroys federal property, endangers our frontline operators, or violates our sovereignty'. 

She later added that border personnel were 'struck by projectiles thrown by caravan members'. She condemned those responsible for their 'dangerous' actions that were 'not consistent with peacefully seeking asylum'.