The general who oversees US military operations in North America said Wednesday there “is actually an increased demand signal, not a decreased demand signal for securing the southern border,” regarding possible migrants who test positive for coronavirus coming across the border
As such, General Terrance O’Shaughnessy said the military is “increasing our presence on the southern border.”
O’Shaughnessy, who is commander of US Northern Command, made the comments to reporters over the telephone.
In the same briefing, Lt. Gen. Laura Richardson, the commanding general, US Army North, said there would be an 540 additional troops sent and they would be arriving “very soon.”
Some context: CNN reported Monday, that the Pentagon approved a Department of Homeland Security request for additional personnel on the southern border to help DHS cope with potential coronavirus related issues, a US defense official told CNN.
The number of additional troops is expected to be about 540. The US military personnel will be performing similar missions to those currently being performed by forces on the US-Mexico border.