The Trump administration is sending some 200 Marines to Florida to aid Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in its deportation raids in the state, the U.S. military announced Thursday.
The Marines, which will come from Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 based in New River, N.C., will support ICE in its “interior immigration enforcement mission” via “critical administrative and logistical capabilities at locations as directed” by the agency, according to a statement from U.S. Northern Command (Northcom).
The release noted that the Marines are just the “first wave” of service members to help ICE in its deportation efforts, with other deployments expected in Louisiana and Texas.
Northcom stressed that service members participating in this mission will perform “strictly non-law enforcement duties” within ICE facilities, with roles focused on administrative and logistical tasks.
“They are specifically prohibited from direct contact with individuals in ICE custody or involvement in any aspect of the custody chain,” according to the statement.
The Marines’ mobilization was in response to a Department of Homeland Security request made to the Pentagon on May 9, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approving a mobilization of up to 700 active, National Guard, and reserve component forces.
President Trump in his second term has used the military significantly more in his immigration agenda compared with his first. The administration has sent 8,500 service members to the U.S.-Mexico border and 5,000 to Los Angeles — including 700 Marines — to protect buildings and ICE agents, who have received pushback due to sweeping immigration raids.
And on Wednesday, the Pentagon announced that just fewer than 70 Florida National Guard troops will provide base camp security at the remote migrant detention center in the state’s Everglades known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”
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