Overview
- Federal officers were stationed outside the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island for Friday's graduation, with officials stressing there are no plans for arrests and that the goal is safe, orderly entry.
- Marine leaders revised a contested website notice and told families immigration checks will not occur at ceremonies, as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement also denied plans to make arrests.
- The original Parris Island post said officers would conduct immigration status inquiries at access points, which defense officials later called a local communications error published without Pentagon approval.
- Security was stepped up after Northern Command ordered tighter base protections, and gate backups at the March 6 graduation led commanders to seek extra federal law enforcement support that DHS said could include ICE personnel.
- Visitors were told to bring a REAL ID-compliant license, a passport, or another federal ID, a step meant to speed entry for thousands of relatives at a service where about 29% of active-duty Marines identify as Hispanic and where lawmakers like Sen. Ruben Gallego voiced concern over ICE’s involvement.