Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are set to be deployed to Marine Corps graduation ceremonies in South Carolina — to screen for any undocumented people who might be turning out to celebrate their family members serving their country.
According to NBC News, "As the U.S. continues the war in Iran, the Marine Corps has boosted protection measures on bases, requiring everyone to present REAL IDs, U.S. passports or U.S. birth certificates to access any sites. Undocumented immigrants are generally ineligible for federal REAL IDs and don’t have U.S. passports or birth certificates."
As a result of this policy, "people without identifying documents who arrive at the gate of Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island in Beaufort, South Carolina, for recruit family days and graduation events this week may now have to answer to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, the Marine Corps said."
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security denied that those found without papers at the event would be subject to arrest, saying, "ICE will not be making arrests at the basic training graduation in Paris [sic] Island, SC.” However, it comes as immigration officials under the Trump administration have defied a number of norms to boost arrests, including plans to raid Spanish-speaking churches.
American Immigration Council senior fellow Aaron Reichlin-Melnick was horrified by the development.
"ICE agents are being sent to make sure that Marines don't bring any undocumented family members (of which there are likely many) to their graduation ceremony," he wrote. "Feeling Great yet?"
All of this comes as the Trump administration weighs a dramatic escalation of the Iran war.
