Expanding Military Bases in New Jersey and Indiana: New Plans for Immigrant Detention Explained

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is set to utilize military bases in New Jersey and Indiana for detaining immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally. This move also includes plans to increase the number of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

A letter from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirms that DHS’s request for these bases was approved. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), part of DHS, has asked for immediate access to Camp Atterbury in Indiana and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. They plan to start housing more immigrants in these locations soon.

According to recent reports, ICE aims to detain immigrants at Guantanamo Bay before their final deportations. The Defense Department stated they’d support this plan until September 30, 2025, contingent on ICE maintaining supervision over the facilities.

In 2019, President Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border, allowing DHS to tap into military resources. An ICE official mentioned that they do not anticipate needing to reimburse the Pentagon for these operations. Meanwhile, DHS has committed to pay for any costs incurred at the McGuire base in New Jersey.

Data shows that DHS currently holds around 57,000 immigrants in detention, despite having only about 41,000 available beds. This discrepancy has prompted DHS to seek additional facilities, including military bases.

By June, Guantanamo housed about 500 migrants, exceeding its previous limit of 200. The DHS plans to increase capacity at the Indiana and New Jersey bases to accommodate up to 1,000 individuals collectively, while doubling Guantanamo’s capacity to about 400.

Experts from various fields have weighed in on this issue. A recent survey by the Pew Research Center found that a significant portion of the U.S. population is divided on the use of military facilities for immigration purposes, with many expressing concerns about the implications for civil liberties and military readiness.

In a statement condemning this approach, a group of Democratic lawmakers called it an “inappropriate use of our military.” They argued that using military resources for immigration enforcement could jeopardize national security and military preparedness.

Overall, this expansion of immigrant detention is part of broader trends in U.S. immigration policy, which has seen increased funding and resources directed towards enforcement actions. The recent tax and spending bill allocates $45 billion for immigration detention, as well as $30 billion for additional ICE personnel and related expenses. As the discussion around immigration continues to evolve, the role of military infrastructure in these operations remains a contentious topic.



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