U.S. Northern Command said on 3 July it is sending about 200 Marines to Florida to provide administrative and logistical support to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The deployment marks the first wave of a Pentagon-approved plan that allows up to 700 active-duty, National Guard and reserve personnel to augment ICE operations in Florida, Texas and Louisiana. Under the orders, Marines will work inside ICE facilities on tasks such as transportation, data processing and infrastructure maintenance. The statement from USNORTHCOM stresses that service members are "specifically prohibited from direct contact with individuals in ICE custody or involvement in any aspect of the custody chain," ensuring they perform no law-enforcement functions. The move expands the Trump administration’s reliance on the military for immigration enforcement support roles. Last month the Pentagon deployed 700 Marines to Los Angeles amid protests over deportation raids, and about 8,500 troops remain stationed along the U.S.–Mexico border. Defense officials say shifting routine duties to military personnel frees ICE agents to focus on arrests and removals.