Marines Deployed to Support ICE in Three States

Approximately 200 U.S. Marines from Marine Corps Air Station New River in North Carolina are being deployed to Florida to assist ICE with administrative and logistical support, following authorization by the Secretary of Defense for up to 700 personnel across Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. The Marines are strictly prohibited from law enforcement duties or direct contact with detainees, focusing on support tasks like paperwork and organizing supplies at ICE facilities. Their deployment coincides with the opening of 'Alligator Alcatraz,' a new high-security ICE detention center in the Everglades, as Florida expands its immigration detention capacity. This move is part of President Trump's strategy to utilize military forces to support immigration enforcement and protect federal agents and property, a tactic recently used in California and Los Angeles. ICE will determine the specific duties and locations for the Marines. Additional deployments are expected in Louisiana and Texas as part of this ongoing federal initiative.