The Department of Defense has approved a limited deployment of 200 U.S. Marines this summer to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. The Marines will assist with logistical and administrative tasks—such as managing supplies, coordinating facility maintenance, scheduling transportation, and recordkeeping—within ICE detention centers but will not be involved in enforcement or arrests.
Officials stress this is strictly a support role, with Marines avoiding any policing duties or wearing ICE insignia. Despite these assurances, civil rights groups have raised concerns about military involvement in immigration matters, calling for careful oversight. Legal experts debate the deployment’s compliance with the Posse Comitatus Act, though most agree the non-enforcement role keeps it within legal limits.
Advocacy groups have petitioned to delay the deployment pending further congressional review, while lawmakers call for transparency on the operation’s scope and oversight. The first Marine units are expected in Florida soon, working closely with Homeland Security officials to maintain clear boundaries.
This deployment marks a significant test of military-civilian cooperation in immigration enforcement, raising questions about the balance between operational support and preserving civilian control.
