Federal immigration agents will be stationed at Marine Corps graduation events this week, the service has announced, raising fears that undocumented relatives celebrating their loved ones’ achievements will be seized and deported.

The service is presenting the unusual move as a security enhancement for family events over the next few days at the Parris Island Marine Corps recruiting depot in South Carolina.

From Wednesday, relatives will be able to visit the training base, and attend a formal graduation ceremony on Friday.

A message on the installation’s website cited “increased force protection measures” and said 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”.