President Donald Trump’s Department of Defense recently confirmed that it is planning to temporarily house and detain illegal immigrants at two U.S. military bases.
In a letter obtained by NJ Spotlight News, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth notified the House Committee on Armed Services and members of Congress representing the areas where the U.S. military bases are located regarding the department’s plan to house illegal immigrants at two U.S. military bases.
“I am writing to inform the Committee that I certify that the provision of Department of Defense real property at Camp Atterbury, Indiana and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, for temporary use by the Department of Homeland Security to house illegal aliens will not negatively affect military training, operations, readiness or other military requirements, including National Guard or Reserve readiness,” Hegseth stated.
While Hegseth identified the two U.S. military bases that will be used to temporarily house detained illegal immigrants, the secretary of defense did not confirm how many illegal immigrants will be housed at the two military installations or when the illegal immigrants will be transported to the bases.
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In a statement to The Hill, a Department of Defense official said, “The Secretary approved a Department of Homeland Security request for assistance to use real property at Camp Atterbury, Indiana and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey to establish temporary soft-sided holding facilities.”
The anonymous defense official added, “The timeline for these facilities will depend on operational requirements and coordination with DHS.”
In a statement obtained by CBS 4 Indy, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, a Republican, gave his support for the Trump administration’s decision to use Camp Atterbury to temporarily house illegal immigrants. Rokita described the move as a “critical step” to “restoring the rule of law and addressing the unfair crisis caused by unchecked illegal immigration.”
“By expanding detention capacity in states throughout the country, President Trump is ensuring illegal aliens are detained while they await deportation—not set loose into our communities due to a lack of bed space,” Rokita added. “For too long, Hoosier communities have borne the burden of open-border policies, facing increased crime, human trafficking, and strain on our schools, hospitals, and other taxpayer-funded resources. Using Camp Atterbury to securely detain illegal aliens pending immigration proceedings or deportation sends a clear message: Indiana will not tolerate lawlessness.”
