The U.S. military announced Thursday that 200 Marines will be deployed to Florida to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with administrative and logistical tasks. According to U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), the Marines will operate strictly within ICE facilities and will not engage in any law enforcement duties or have direct contact with detainees. Their mission is limited to behind-the-scenes support to help manage ICE’s interior enforcement operations.
This deployment marks the beginning of a broader effort by USNORTHCOM to assist ICE across multiple states. The Marines, drawn from Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 at Marine Corps Air Station New River in North Carolina, will handle non-combat responsibilities such as clerical tasks and logistics involved in processing individuals detained by immigration authorities. Clear restrictions are in place to ensure they do not participate in any custody-related procedures.