‘We can’t normalize it’: Protesters gather at Parris Island over immigration concerns
As the sun rose on Friday, a group of protesters gathered along the roadway leading to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.
The protestors were calling attention to what they described as confusion and concern surrounding immigration enforcement at the graduation, scheduled to commence just a few hours later.
Holding signs and speaking through megaphones, they stood by passing cars of family members and friends of graduating recruits making their way onto the base. Among them was Aimee Deverall, a local immigration attorney and chair of the Lowcountry Immigration Coalition, which organized the protest.
“We want our government to know that we see you, we see what’s happening, and we’re not going to accept this,” Deverall said. “We want the families to know that we stand with you, we believe you deserve to be there, and your marine deserves to have you there.”
The protest comes after a series of shifting statements from federal officials and base representatives about the role of immigration enforcement in heightened security measures at the installation.
A previous message on the Parris Island MCRD website said that federal law enforcement personnel would “be present at installation access points to conduct enhanced screening and lawful immigration status inquiries.” A spokesperson for Parris Island previously confirmed with The Island Packet that ICE would be present at events to ensure the security of Marines and visitors.
But that messaging has since changed. The base’s website now states that federal officials will be present due to “increased force protection measures” and to “expedite enhanced base access procedures.” There was no specific word on immigration enforcement.
ICE officials have been adamant that their agents will not be present at the base for recruit family and graduation day events. Representatives from the base said the Marine Corps would “never discuss specific agency participation.”
A press release from the military base said that during this time, support from federal law enforcement partners is “essential” to maintain “thorough and efficient screening while minimizing delays.”
While on the base to watch graduation, Deverall said, she saw armed officers on the outskirts of the ceremony. When shown a photo of the officers, an ICE spokesperson said they were military police.
“But either way,” Deverall said, “I don’t understand how this became an ‘oops’ or a ‘snafu’ that ICE was going to be there... it’s hard to believe — in an administration that has no credibility especially surrounding ICE — that this wasn’t just another tactic to scare and intimate families.”
“We have to keep looking into this,” Deverall said. “We can’t normalize it.”
This story was originally published April 3, 2026 at 11:31 AM.
