As someone who long ago earned the right to wear the Eagle, Globe and Anchor, and the title United States Marine I have every right to say F**K ICE. While I’m at it F**K Trump, Stephen Miller, Pete Hegseth and Markwayne Mullin. Only Hegseth served at all and while he tried to pass himself off as a warrior but in his two tours overseas he wasn’t a combat soldier leading a platoon. He did a stint in public affairs, and a second one as a training Officer. Maybe he’s even more jealous than the p@@&y ICE agents and the others I named about not having what it takes to be a Marine. So now ICE will ‘monitor’ access to Parris Island (and I assume San Diego too) to harass and whisk away family members of Marines at their graduation parades!
However as reported by NBC News that exactly what’s going to happen starting this week. ICE will control access to the MCRD to check people’s documentation. At what should be one of the proudest moments of new Marines (and their parents and other loved ones) lives ICE will be waiting to arrest and deport people that are either undocumented or don’t yet have documentation that satisfies the whims of GUTLESS, and JEALOUS (because they haven’t earned what the Marines have earned) not the least effing-bit-ICE agents:
ICE agents will be stationed outside graduation events for the nation’s newest Marines to identify whether any of their family members are undocumented, according to the Marine Corps.
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.
As it happens there’s a Congress Critter (Mike Bost, MAGA Republican) and fellow jarhead from my hometown. He’s a few years younger than me but I grew up with and was a classmate of his older sister. I barely remember him from way back then (over four decades) but he’s chair of a House Armed Services Committee. Summoning every bit of discipline Drill Instructors and later on Troop Handlers at Camp Pendleton pounded into me in training I managed not to cuss in a way that would make a Gunny cringe while speaking to a staffer at Mikey’s office. But I made it clear he doesn’t have a hair on his ass if he doesn’t go on the House floor to LOUDLY denounce this. He knows how to get in touch with me for saying that. Hell, I told the staffer he doesn’t have the guts!
No one who hasn’t been through it knows how grueling the transition from civilian to Marine is. We all go into it knowing it will be tougher than the other armed services. We take pride in it in fact. You can say there’s something weirdly wrong with us for wanting to take on the extra challenge and I wouldn’t argue. It’s why we take pride in doing it. So do the loved ones of those who make it through to graduation day. If they have the resources they travel to the MCRD (both Parris Island in South Carolina and San Diego in California have recruit training depots) to watch the graduation ceremony and subsequent parade.
My oldest sister and I were on good terms at the time and she flew out to San Diego. So was a guy I knew growing up from church. A Master Gunnery Sgt. (E-9) who was the top ranking recruiter for the Marine Corps and who was stationed at MCRD San Diego. (My Senior Drill Instructor’s jaw dropped when he saw Jim putting my seabag into the trunk of his car before taking me and sis to the airport! That’s quite a story I won’t get into). Charlie, (then) Captain Ward apologized profusely for not being able to get down there from Tustin that day but something came up. THAT is the pride family and friends take in what new Marines have accomplished. As white folks, two which were Marines ICE probably wouldn’t have given them a second glance. But we had guys who were NOT white, including one who’s family had escaped Nicaragua. I’ll bet ICE would have eagerly put “Speedy’s” family through the wringer and worse, taken them away because while here legally they hadn’t yet gotten green cards!
That’s what I find so vile, so disgusting and OUTRAGEOUS. Even if the Commandant of the Marine Corps told the Marines at the gate to deny ICE entry (which I don’t think he did) and the Commanding General of the base too it wouldn’t keep ICE from setting up ‘Deportation Shop’ just outside the gate. Imagine having endured what for most recruits is by far the toughest (both physically and mentally) three months of their lives. It’s graduation day and you are expecting to greet family and friends after that last order from your Drill Instructor – “Platoon 1019 (my platoon’s #) – DISMISSED.” With a loud ‘Aye Aye Sir! you take one step back and do an about face and let out a cheer. Then move towards the reviewing stands to greet a parent(s) and/or others who came to see that moment.
But they aren’t there. What? THEN you get told f**king ICE detained them at the gate. AND they won’t tell you where they are or what’s going to happen to them! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION? Hell, this country for that matter. If they’re doing it to my Marine Corps they’ll be doing it to the other services soon enough. But that’s what we’ve come to. ICE’s reign of terror is now being unleashed on people who have chosen, or have had a loved one choose to serve this country!
Undocumented immigrants are generally ineligible for federal REAL IDs and don’t have U.S. passports or birth certificates. So 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.
They are trying to make it sound oh so innocent. I call BULLSHIT. We all know damn well ICE has targeted and deported people just showing up for scheduled appointments to renew their status or obtain a green card. They’ve even arrested U.S. citizens who ‘didn’t look right’ on suspicion of being “illegal” and even ignored some who have presented documentation (a Real ID driver’s license, a green card, a work authorization document) calling it fake! No, this is just an excuse for a bunch of THUGS to harass and terrorize people we SHOULD be thanking! But that’s the way things are going to be unless holy hell gets raised:
Because of “increased force protection measures” at the recruit depot, “federal law enforcement personnel will be present at installation access points to conduct enhanced screening and lawful immigration status inquiries during recruit family and graduation days,” a message on the Parris Island website read.
While sometimes family members don’t have proper documentation, it wasn’t clear why ICE had decided to target Parris Island. A spokesperson for ICE didn’t immediately reply to a message seeking comment.
Well, the Corps did but their statement was less than reassuring, at least to me:
“While the Marine Corps routinely coordinates with federal partners on security matters, this is the first time in recent memory that federal law enforcement agencies have supported base access operations at Parris Island in this capacity,” according to a spokesperson for MCRD Parris Island.
The spokesperson encouraged all visitors to be prepared for additional screening measures.
“To help ensure a smooth and timely process, guests should bring proper identification and limit the number of items they carry onto the installation,” the spokesperson said.
You know what I think? This is a step Hegseth WANTS to take to remake our military into his brand of White Christian Nationalist ‘warriors.’ He might as well tell those who regardless of branch of service graduating from Boot Camp or Officer Candidate School ‘It you’re white (and Christian – Evangelical of course) you’re alright. Welcome. If you’re not, take the hint and don’t sign up, or go to see your son or daughter graduate from their training.’
I don’t see this getting the attention it should. With Marines about to be deployed in significant numbers in Trump’s dumbass Iran war you’d think this would be being talked about on every news show. Well, not Fox of course. At most if they mention it they’ll try to spin it the way the administration and the Corps is doing. Oh how I wish Gen. Al Gray was Commandant right now. HE would be raising holy hell!
For now the last line of the linked article is the most ominous:
It’s not clear whether ICE will be at the gate to Parris Island for the foreseeable future or whether the ICE involvement could expand to other bases.
Ten bucks says that absent a big outcry from the public and Congress Critters this is only the beginning of Hegseth’s purge. If you’re not white, your graduation and you’re loved one’s ability to share in your pride will be tainted with fear. That’s what ICE does best – freeze out joy from people this administration is determined to drive out of our country.
Friends, I know everyone begs you for money. I promise, among all those asking for spare change, we are the smallest and the hardest working. We’re a group of old, disabled people, except for one writer in his mid-50s. The rest of us are in our sixties and seventies, and this is a labor of love. All we’re asking for is the chance to keep telling the truth about Trump and help ensure democracy survives. If you can help, please do. Thank you. Ursula
Winning yet? ETTD. Ice wants to go the easy route. Obscenity obscenity obscenity.
Pardon me, but What The Actual F*CK!!!!!! This is damn near unbelievable. My family went to Parris Island for my brother’s retirement. We were so, so proud of him. We wouldn’t have been stopped for long because we’re white. I can’t imagine having to be afraid to go see him because we were not white. What a detestable thing to do!!!!!
I am so angry I’m having trouble typing! JFC, what next?
Thanks, Denis, for this heartfelt article and for the barely-suppressed outrage it contains. The use of Trump’s private army against the Marine Corps is beyond belief. I can only hope and trust that the Corps commandant, General Eric Smith, will step up to defend his people from this unwarranted assault from a corrupt political administration.