In a massive security shift to safeguard America’s military strongholds, the U.S. Marine Corps has teamed up with ICE to bolster security at three key bases.
See the tweet below!
This discreet pilot program aims to prevent unauthorized access and strengthen threat awareness, an initiative crucial after recent breach attempts.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents have joined forces with the Marines at installations such as Camp Pendleton in California, Quantico in Virginia, and Hawaii.
This collaboration is a proactive measure to deter foreign nationals from unlawfully entering these bases.
The pilot program was officially announced on May 16, 2025, at Camp Pendleton, marking a significant milestone in national security efforts.
Although the initiative wasn’t launched in response to a specific event, it underscores ongoing efforts to enhance security and protect America’s military assets.
ICE’s involvement will focus on verifying identities and screening at base gates, but they won’t patrol inside the bases.
The partnership isn’t new; it builds on a history of cooperation with installation law enforcement to boost protection and visibility at critical points.
“Our partnership with ICE enhances installation-level force protection by increasing visibility, coordination and threat awareness at critical access points and in surrounding areas,” said Capt. Kevin Uebelhardt, a spokesperson for Headquarters Marine Corps, cited by Military.com.
Concerns about transparency and the program’s inception remain.
Defense experts like Abby Hall Blanco have voiced unease about the lack of clear information leading up to this initiative.
Critics worry it may suggest inadequacies in Marine security capabilities.
Integrating ICE and Customs and Border Protection at these installations is part of a “proof-of-concept” phase.
Marines will not enforce immigration laws, ensuring a defined boundary between military and federal law enforcement responsibilities.
“It gives kind of an odd impression that the Marine Corps is not handling its own security sufficiently,” Abby Hall Blanco, a University of Tampa economics and defense professor, told Fox News.
This cooperative strategy follows multiple breach attempts, like the 2023 incident at Quantico involving two Jordanian nationals, one of whom was unauthorized to be in the U.S.
Alongside unauthorized drone flights, such threats highlight the need for increased vigilance.
This new partnership may result in longer processing times at gates but is crucial for preventing potential threats from foreign nationals.
The primary focus remains on enhancing force protection and maintaining high levels of readiness across all Marine installations.
In a new pilot program with the Marine Corps and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE agents will be at the gates of Marine Corps Base Hawaii to prevent unauthorized entry from foreign nationals. https://t.co/JE92hFjAGo
— Island News (@KITV4) July 9, 2025
