PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA — Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will station outside Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in Beaufort, South Carolina on Friday to conduct immigration status inquiries of graduates' family members. According to a spokesperson for Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, this is the first time in recent memory that federal law enforcement agencies have supported base access operations at Parris Island in this capacity.

The Parris Island website states that 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 because of increased force protection measures.

The Marine Corps requires everyone to present REAL IDs, U.S. passports, or U.S. birth certificates to access any sites as part of increased force protection measures on bases, according to the Marine Corps. Undocumented immigrants are generally ineligible for federal REAL IDs and do not have U.S. passports or birth certificates.

People without identifying documents who arrive at the gate of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island for recruit family days and graduation events may have to answer to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said any suggestion that ICE would make arrests at the basic training graduation in Parris Island, SC was false. A spokesperson for Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island said that guests should bring proper identification and limit the number of items they carry onto the installation.

Graduation at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island is scheduled for Friday morning and family members may visit the base beginning Wednesday. Marine recruits are not allowed to see their families during the 13-week boot camp.

Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island holds graduation ceremonies about 46 weeks of the year, according to a spokesperson for Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. Marine Corps recruits have trained at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island since November 1915.