The U.S. Northern Command said Thursday that it would deploy two hundred U.S. Marines to Florida to assist President Donald Trump’s mass deportation efforts.
According to the release, the marines would be sent to the Sunshine State from an air base in North Carolina to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s internal enforcement efforts.
According to the statement, the marines will not be doing law enforcement tasks. Rather, they will assist with logistical and administrative tasks as directed by the ICE.
As part of Governor Ron DeSantis’ vow to support federal immigration operations, Florida opened Alligator Alcatraz, a detention facility deep in the Everglades, at the same time as the announcement. The location, which has come under heavy fire from environmentalists and immigration activists, started hosting detainees Wednesday night. Whether the deploying troops will be stationed at the new detention facility is still unknown.
According to the agency, the Marines’ deployment was the initial phase of USNORTHCOM’s assistance for this ICE mission, and the Defense Secretary had authorized up to 700 troops in response to a request from the Department of Homeland Security.
The federal government’s effort to direct military and law enforcement resources toward the Trump immigration agenda includes Thursday’s marine mobilization.
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