ICE agents to assist 3 Marine bases with security, preventing non-citizens from illegally entering

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents will assist three Marine Corps bases with security to prevent foreign nationals from illegally entering.

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California last week said federal immigration agents will be assisting with its security. And a Marine Corps spokesperson told Military.com on Tuesday that ICE agents will also be part of installation security at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., and Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

A Camp Pendleton spokespeople said that the pilot program is in the "proof-of-concept" phase.

"Marine and family readiness start at our bases and stations, and the safety and security of our Marines, sailors, family members, civilian employees and all who work and have proper access to Marine Corps installations are of the utmost importance," Capt. Kevin Uebelhardt, a spokesperson for Headquarters Marine Corps, said Tuesday.

"Our partnership with ICE enhances installation-level force protection by increasing visibility, coordination and threat awareness at critical access points and in surrounding areas," he also said. 

Pendleton spokesperson Second Lt. Anna Hornick said the pilot program is part of a broader effort to deter unauthorized installation entry. She also said "ICE is here to deter unauthorized installation attempts by any unauthorized foreign nationals."

In 2023, The Wall Street Journal reported that anonymous officials said Chinese nationals had accessed military installations roughly 100 times in previous years.