() The Department of Defense is planning to use two U.S. military bases to house detained migrants, according to a letter from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The letter, first obtained by NJ Spotlight News, was sent on July 15 to the House Committee on Armed Services and members of Congress representing the areas where the bases are located. Hegseth writes that the plan “will not negatively affect military training, operations, readiness or other military requirements, including National Guard or Reserve readiness.”
Hegseth identified Camp Atterbury in Indiana and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey as the two bases that would temporarily house migrants but did not provide a number of how many would be moved there or when.
An official from the Department of Defense told partner The Hill in a statement that Hegseth had “approved a Department of Homeland Security request for assistance” to use the two bases, adding that “temporary soft-sided holding facilities,” would be established.
The facilities would be similar to the tent structures in place at the detention center in Florida dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.”
On Friday, White House Border Czar Tom Homan told reporters outside the White House that ICE detention facilities have about 60,000 beds for detained migrants but need 100,000.
“I woke up one morning, we had less than 200 beds, we’ll fill them by half a day. So, we are constantly having to change flight arrangements and move deportations as quickly as we can to empty beds,” Homan said. “We shouldn’t be in that position.”
A group of Democratic lawmakers in New Jersey posted a statement to social media Friday condemning the decision to use the bases writing, “this is an inappropriate use of our national defense system.”
This would not be the first time military bases have been used to house migrants. In 2014, the Obama administration temporarily used military bases to house migrant children during a surge at the border. During the Biden administration, some U.S. bases were also used to temporarily house Afghan refugees.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has said she’s been in contact with other states about opening additional migrant detention facilities like “Alligator Alcatraz.”
Without confirming that they have been contacted, spokespersons for governors in South Carolina, Mississippi and Texas have told they are ready to assist in Trump’s immigration enforcement plans.
