On July 3, 2025, the U.S. Department of Defense announced the deployment of 200 Marines to Florida to support the operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to the statement, the personnel will not engage in arrests or direct contact with migrants but will serve exclusively in administrative and logistical roles. Nevertheless, the measure sparked a heated public debate about the permissibility of using armed forces domestically. The operation is part of a broader plan to potentially deploy up to 700 troops in Texas and Louisiana as well. Defense officials claim the move is aimed at strengthening internal services under increasing migration pressure and ICE staffing shortages. Critics, however, see this as a dangerous precedent of militarizing immigration policy. Human rights organizations have expressed concern that even indirect military presence may foster an atmosphere of intimidation and fear among immigrants, including asylum seekers. Precedents of military use at the border existed under previous administrations, including during Donald Trump’s term. Still, the current mission differs in its administrative nature and limited authority. An ICE spokesperson noted that military personnel will be assigned to logistics centers with no access to migrant holding zones. Meanwhile, Congress remains deeply divided on immigration reform and the military’s role in civilian matters. Some Republican senators backed the deployment as a necessary step, while Democrats called for transparency and strict protection of civil liberties. The White House emphasized the operation’s temporary nature and noted it is carried out at the request of the Department of Homeland Security. Thus, the legality and effectiveness of such military involvement remains an open question for public discourse. Sources: Reuters, July 3, 2025; Military Times; New York Times.