Trump deploys 200 Marines to Florida in support of ICE operations
Last month, he deployed 700 Marines to Los Angeles to contend with unruly anti-immigration protestors, sparking a furious response from California Governor Gavin Newsom . 'These Marines are the first wave of U.S. Northern Command's support of this ICE mission,' the Northern Command said in a statement. Other deployments are expected to be made to Louisiana and Texas , officials said.
The service members who are called to duty in Florida will 'perform strictly non law enforcement duties within ICE facilities.' This will include administrative and logistical tasks, freeing up ICE agents to dedicate their working hours to conducting arrests and tracking down illegal criminals. 'They are specifically prohibited from direct contact with individuals in ICE custody or involvement in any aspect of the custody chain,' the statement added.
It comes after Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill finally passed through Congress, paving the way for him to sign it into law on Friday July 4 - Independence Day. The landmark tax cuts and spending legislation contains many of the Republican's campaign promises, totaling $3.3 trillion. The tax cuts alone will cost $4.5 trillion over the next ten years, according to projections from the Congressional Budget Office. To offset the massive price tag Republicans included $1.2 trillion in spending cuts, mainly trimming Medicaid, the health care program for the poor and disabled.
Border security efforts will also be getting a major cash infusion estimated to be around $150 billion for increased immigration enforcement. It includes $46 billion for Customs and Border Patrol to build border wall and enhanced security measures and around $30 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The passage of the bill sparked a furious response from leading Democrat Ocasio-Cortez , who warned: 'I don't think anyone is prepared for what they just did w/ ICE.' 'This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI , US Bureau of Prisons, DEA and others combined,' she wrote on Bluesky. 'It is setting up to make what's happening now look like child's play.' In a chilling warning to the public, Ocasio-Cortez warned: 'People are disappearing.'
The measure also stirred controversy within GOP ranks and even drew the ire of billionaire Elon Musk for its massive spending, which he likened to 'political suicide.' Trump has committed to embarking on the largest mass deportation scheme in American history as part of his mission to secure US borders. Last month, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth greenlit up to 700 military personnel helping ICE agents across Florida, Louisiana and Texas.
And in Florida, Trump has proudly touted his 'Alligator Alcatraz' detention facility, which will be manned by just under 70 Florida National Guard troops. Trump on Tuesday toured the new immigration detention center surrounded by alligator-filled swamps in the Florida Everglades, suggesting it could be a model for future lockups nationwide as his administration races to expand the infrastructure necessary for increasing deportations. Trump said he'd like to see similar facilities in 'really, many states' and raised the prospect of also deporting US citizens.
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