The Trump administration is deploying 200 Marines to Florida to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in its expanded interior immigration enforcement operations, the U.S. Northern Command confirmed on Thursday. Additional deployments are expected in Louisiana and Texas, though the timeline for operations remains undisclosed.
“Approximately 200 Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 272, Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, are conducting a movement to Florida, to augment U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) interior immigration enforcement mission with critical administrative and logistical capabilities at locations as directed by ICE,” the Northern Command said in a press release.
The support follows a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) request submitted on May 9, and was approved under Title 10 authority by the Secretary of Defense, permitting the mobilization of up to 700 active, National Guard, and Reserve personnel.
“Their roles will focus on administrative and logistical tasks, and they are specifically prohibited from direct contact with individuals in ICE custody or involvement in any aspect of the custody chain,” the Command clarified.
This deployment aligns with President Trump’s aggressive deportation strategy, reinforced by the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill, which allocates $4.5 trillion for border security, including funding for 10,000 new ICE agents and 3,000 Border Patrol officers, effective in fiscal year 2026.
Earlier in June, 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines were deployed to Los Angeles following violent protests against ICE raids. However, there have been no reported protests in Florida, Texas, or Louisiana as of now.
In Florida, Marines are supporting operations at ICE facilities such as the newly opened Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, colloquially dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” due to its remote Everglades location and heavy security features, including several thousand beds, 200 security cameras, and 28,000 feet of barbed wire.
While the Marines’ involvement is limited to non-law enforcement duties, the deployment has raised concerns among civil rights groups, who warn of potential mission creep and the normalization of military support for domestic immigration enforcement.