By Diyar Guldogan
WASHINGTON (AA) - A US military commander said Thursday that he expects additional troops to be deployed to the southern border with Mexico to tackle immigration.
"We have 5,000 Title 10 forces on the southern border right now, and I do expect that number to grow," said Gen. Gregory M. Guillot, commander of the US Northern Command (USNORTHCOM).
Guillot's remarks came during his testimony before a Senate committee on the 2026 defense budget request.
Transnational criminal cartels based in Mexico threaten the US’s territorial integrity and the safety of its citizens, Guillot told the committee.
The US has the capability and the support to meet the requirements established in the executive orders to face down the cartels.
"We've also increased some uniquely military capabilities that will get after... the cartels, which are driving the illegal migration, and that's primarily through airborne ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) to get more information on those and figure out how we can counter their actions," he added.
Asked whether a carrier strike group is needed in the "Gulf of America," Guillot said at this time, he has not gotten to a carrier strike group.
"But I will need a significant increased maritime presence in cooperation with the Coast Guard," he said.