ICE agents are being sent to Marine Corps graduation ceremonies at its training center in South Carolina over the Easter weekend, according to a report.
NBC News reports that the federal immigration troops will be present to check that all attendees arriving at Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island in Beaufort have the proper documentation to hand.
The Corps has ramped up security measures since the launch of Operation Epic Fury airstrikes against Iran began a month ago, meaning that anyone arriving at its bases are now required to show REAL IDs, U.S. passports or American birth certificates to gain access.
A message posted on the Parris Island website explained that “increased force protection measures” at the depot mean that “federal law enforcement personnel will be present at installation access points to conduct enhanced screening and lawful immigration status inquiries during recruit family and graduation days.”
Guests – who have not seen the graduating troops in person since their 13-week training course began – can begin arriving at the base from Wednesday, with the ceremonies getting underway on Good Friday.
Asked whether the agents’ presence meant there was a possibility of family members being arrested while attempting to celebrate a loved one’s big day, a scenario that would represent a publicity disaster for the agency and the Trump administration, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson was dismissive.
“ICE will not be making arrests at the basic training graduation in Paris Island, SC,” they told The Independent.
The Independent also reached out to ICE for more information.
A spokesperson for MCRD Parris Island said: “While the Marine Corps routinely coordinates with federal partners on security matters, this is the first time in recent memory that federal law enforcement agencies have supported base access operations at Parris Island in this capacity.
“To help ensure a smooth and timely process, guests should bring proper identification and limit the number of items they carry onto the installation.”
It is not currently clear how long ICE will be stationed at Parris Island, the Corps’ home since 1915, or whether its agents could be sent out to other bases to perform the same function.
Since the disastrous collapse of Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota in January, in which two members of the public were shot dead protesting against ICE’s actions, the agency has been taken over by “border czar” Tom Homan and its agents assigned to major airports.
Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union Sunday, Homan said his forces would be removed from airports only when TSA agents are relieved of the pressure placed on them by the ongoing DHS shutdown, a problem for Congress to solve.
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