Marines from North Carolina are in Guantanamo Bay preparing the U.S. naval base to house thousands of undocumented immigrants – the result of an order from President Donald Trump.
[ READ MORE: First military flight to send migrants to Guantanamo Bay is set to depart ]
Our partners at WTVD report the Marines deployed from Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps air station Cherry Point.
The departments of defense and homeland security are working to expand the migrant operations center at the base in Cuba as part of Trump’s mass deportation plans.
The first U.S. military flight to deport migrants from the U.S. to Guantanamo Bay was set to depart Tuesday, officials said.
Marines boarding the plane said they’re prepared for assignments like this.
“Just going to miss my family – didn’t get a lot of time to say goodbye,” 1st Sgt. Johnny Stone said. “Me and the guys are prepared for this. We came out in the field Friday, that’s when we found out we’re going.”
WTVD reports that overall, 1,000 active-duty troops are expected to help support the base.
Channel 9 has learned expanding the facility could take weeks.
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