Washington (CNN) Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen on Monday directed Customs and Border Protection to speed up its planned surge of 750 officers to assist the US Border Patrol along areas of the southern border where there has been a influx of migrants crossing into the US from Mexico.

She also told the border agency, which is overseen by DHS, to look at adding possibly more than 2,000 officers to the border areas.

Last week, CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said he was moving 750 officers from "key roles" at the ports of entry to help Border Patrol care for migrants, including helping with processing and transportation, adding that the shift would cause a slowdown in trade and an increased wait for cars and pedestrians crossing legally.

The administration has not provided additional details of where the personnel would be moved from or where they would be deployed.

CBP expected March to be the highest month for encounters at the southern border in a decade, according to McAleenan. The final monthly numbers have not yet been released.

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