Around 200 U.S. Marines are being sent to Florida to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in its mission, according to military officials.
In a release on Thursday, U.S. Northern Command announced that the Marines would be moving from the Marine Corps Air Station in New River, North Carolina.
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The movement is aimed “to augment (ICE’s) interior immigration enforcement mission with critical administrative and logistical capabilities at locations as directed by ICE,” the release reads.
According to the release, the move comes after a request by the Department of Homeland Security back in May, where the Secretary of Defense approved the mobilization of up to 700 military personnel to help with immigration enforcement efforts in Florida, Louisiana and Texas.
“These Marines are the first wave of U.S. Northern Command’s support of this ICE mission,” the release continues.
Military officials explained that service members participating in this mission will perform “strictly non-law enforcement duties” within ICE facilities, as their roles will focus on administrative and logistical tasks.
As a result, military officials added that these service members will be prohibited from direct contact with individuals in ICE custody.