Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth proposes using Indiana and New Jersey military bases (Camp Atterbury and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst) to house detained immigrants. He assures this won't compromise military readiness, potentially accommodating thousands. This plan, part of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement strategy, faces criticism from Democratic lawmakers and civil rights groups concerned about military resource allocation and the large-scale detention of immigrants
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth proposed temporarily housing detained immigrants at Camp Atterbury (Indiana) and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (New Jersey). This plan, notified to Congress this week, aims to address the growing need for immigration detention facilities without impacting military readiness
Trump Administration's Immigration Detention Policy: Military Bases Proposed for Housing Detainees. The Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement, leading to mass detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants—including many without criminal records—has spurred the search for additional housing. This has prompted consideration of using military bases, raising concerns among lawmakers and civil rights groups
Defense Secretary Hegseth assures Indiana and New Jersey military bases can house immigrant detainees without impacting military operations or training. While the timeline for detainee arrival remains unclear, the plan potentially involves thousands and may expand to other bases. The decision follows the Trump administration's increased efforts to detain immigrants, sparking debate among lawmakers and civil rights advocates regarding resource allocation and detention justification
Trump administration officials plan to increase immigrant detention capacity from 60,000 to 100,000 beds. Border czar Tom Homan stated this goal while speaking to reporters near the White House, highlighting the administration's aggressive immigration enforcement policy
Urgent need for increased immigrant detention capacity: Officials seek additional bed space meeting existing standards to expedite removal of individuals from the streets
Outrage mounts as plan to house immigrant detainees at Indiana and New Jersey military bases faces bipartisan opposition. Lawmakers and civil rights groups question the impact on military readiness and the ethics of mass detention, citing concerns over resource allocation and the justification for holding so many immigrants
New Jersey's Democratic delegation opposes using military bases to detain undocumented immigrants, citing concerns about jeopardized military readiness and the potential for increased ICE raids throughout the state. The plan to house detainees at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst raises serious questions about resource allocation and community impact
Indiana Congressman Andre Carson (D) reports unanswered questions to the Trump administration regarding immigrant detention conditions at military bases, raising concerns about detainee welfare and the impact on military readiness
Concerns grow over plans to house detained immigrants at Indiana military bases, prompting criticism over ICE detention capacity and conditions. The expansion of detention space highlights the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement policies and raises questions about the impact on military readiness and detainee welfare
ACLU-NJ Executive Director Amol Sinha condemns the Trump administration's plan to house immigrants in military facilities like Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, calling it a dangerous precedent that violates core constitutional values
Camp Atterbury (Indiana) and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (New Jersey), previously used to house Afghan and Ukrainian refugees, are now being considered by the Department of Defense as potential sites for immigrant detention
Trump administration's use of military bases, including Fort Bliss and Goodfellow Air Force Base, to detain immigrant children sparked controversy. This practice, authorized under President Trump, raises concerns about military readiness and the ethics of using military installations for immigration detention
In 2014, the Obama administration temporarily used military bases to house unaccompanied immigrant children, while expanding private family detention centers to accommodate the surge of Central American families crossing the US border
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Associated Press writers Christine Fernando and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report.
Source: Original Article