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.

In June, President Trump authorized the deployment of up to 700 Defense Department personnel to assist ICE in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. Earlier in the month, 700 Marines were also sent to Los Angeles to support ICE during protests against deportation operations. That deployment faced pushback from California leaders, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who argued that military involvement could increase public tensions.

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated on June 17 that all military personnel assigned to this mission will operate under Title 10 status, which bars them from participating directly in law enforcement activities. Their duties are strictly administrative and supportive in nature.

The deployment comes as the U.S. economy shows signs of strength. In June, the country added 147,000 jobs, surpassing expectations, and the unemployment rate fell to 4.1%. President Trump praised the numbers, attributing the growth to his administration’s policies on trade, taxes, and deregulation.