NOTE: VIDEO AT THE END OF ARTICLE
Marines Deployed to Florida to Assist ICE Operations
The Trump administration is sending 200 Marines to Florida in a move that has already sparked political reactions. These troops will provide administrative and logistical support to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) announced Thursday.
The Marines are part of Marine Wing Support Squadron 272, based at Marine Corps Air Station New River in North Carolina. Their mission is to aid ICE’s internal operations—not engage in law enforcement or migrant custody.
According to USNORTHCOM, “Service members involved in this operation will engage solely in non-law enforcement roles within ICE facilities.”
Deployment Part of a Larger National Push
This deployment marks the first wave of support from Northern Command in a broader initiative. In June, the Pentagon approved sending up to 700 military personnel to help ICE in Florida, Texas, and Louisiana. These forces, drawn from all branches under Title 10 duty, are being used to assist with paperwork, processing, and facility operations.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell reiterated that “they will not engage directly in law enforcement activities.” Instead, they will handle clerical tasks tied to the processing of illegal immigrants.
A similar deployment of 700 Marines was sent to Los Angeles in June to ease tensions surrounding ICE deportation efforts. That move drew strong backlash from California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. They warned it would escalate public anger during already sensitive operations.
Critics Raise Alarm, But Trump Admin Holds Firm
Civil rights groups and some Democrats have criticized the move, saying it militarizes immigration enforcement. However, the Trump administration maintains that this is lawful and necessary support for overwhelmed ICE facilities.
Despite the controversy, regulations are in place to strictly prohibit Marines from direct involvement with detainees.
Strong Job Numbers Undercut Media Narrative
The military deployment comes as Trump receives praise for a surprisingly strong jobs report. The U.S. economy added 147,000 jobs in June, exceeding expectations of 117,500. The unemployment rate dropped to 4.1%, down from 4.2%.
This marks a sharp contrast to downward job revisions seen under the Biden administration. The last three months now average a solid 150,000 job gains per month.
Markets responded positively. The Dow rose 96 points, the S&P 500 increased 0.4%, and the Nasdaq jumped 0.6%. Bloomberg analysts called the report “significantly better than anticipated.”
Job Creators Network CEO Alfredo Ortiz credited Trump’s policies, stating: “It’s all about Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!”
Trump echoed the sentiment on Truth Social, sharing Bloomberg’s take and touting his economic comeback strategy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RQfK83syx0
