The U.S. military announced on Thursday that 200 Marines will be dispatched to Florida to offer logistical and administrative assistance to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
According to the statement, these Marines represent the initial phase of U.S. Northern Command’s support for ICE’s enforcement initiatives.
“Service members involved in this operation will engage solely in non-law enforcement roles within ICE facilities,” USNORTHCOM stated in a release.
In June, President Donald Trump deployed 700 Marines to mitigate protests against deportation actions conducted by ICE officials in Los Angeles.
Critics raised alarms regarding the treatment of migrants by federal authorities and the tactics used by immigration officers during the raids, despite the fact that these operations were executed under lawful directives from federal authorities.