Trump Admin Sending Hundreds of Marines to Florida to Help ICE
The U.S. military announced Thursday that approximately 200 Marines will deploy to Florida to provide logistical and administrative support to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The move represents the first phase of support from U.S. Northern Command for ICE enforcement operations, according to an official statement.
Military officials emphasized that the Marines will not be involved in law enforcement activities. “Service members participating in this mission will perform strictly non-law enforcement duties within ICE facilities,” USNORTHCOM said. Their responsibilities will focus on administrative work, logistics, and operational support.
The Marines deploying to Florida are from Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 based at Marine Corps Air Station New River. According to the statement, the personnel will help augment ICE’s interior immigration enforcement mission by providing critical administrative and logistical capabilities at designated locations.
Officials stressed that strict guidelines will prevent Marines from interacting directly with detainees or participating in custody operations. The deployment is part of a broader effort that could include additional personnel supporting operations in Louisiana and Texas.
The announcement follows a separate deployment in June, when up to 700 Marines were authorized by Donald Trump to support federal operations amid protests in Los Angeles related to deportation efforts. That decision drew criticism from local leaders, including Karen Bass and Gavin Newsom, who argued the deployments could escalate tensions.
Sean Parnell previously stated that Defense Department personnel supporting ICE would operate under Title 10 authority and focus on logistical and clerical tasks associated with processing individuals at detention facilities. “They will not directly participate in law enforcement activities,” Parnell emphasized.
The deployment comes as new economic data indicates continued growth in the U.S. labor market. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the economy added 147,000 jobs in June, exceeding forecasts of 117,500. The unemployment rate also declined to 4.1% from 4.2%.
Revisions to previous months showed additional strength, with May’s job growth adjusted to 144,000 and April’s total revised upward to 158,000. These updates placed the three-month average job growth at approximately 150,000 positions.
Financial markets reacted positively to the report. According to CNN, stocks opened higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 96 points, while the S&P 500 gained 0.4% and the Nasdaq Composite increased 0.6%.
Alfredo Ortiz praised the administration’s policies during an appearance on Fox Business Network, highlighting trade, tax, and deregulation efforts as key drivers of job growth.
Trump also shared a Bloomberg report on Truth Social noting that unemployment came in lower than expected and jobless claims were also below projections, calling the data “much better than expected.”