Homeland Security will soon use parts of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (NJ) and Camp Atterbury (IN) as temporary holding facilities for undocumented immigrants, according to the Defense Department, citing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision.
New Jersey Democrats slammed the move, warning it threatens military readiness and militarizes immigration policy. They called on Republicans to help reverse the decision, highlighting past use of these bases for Afghan refugees after the 2021 withdrawal.
“This is an inappropriate use of our national defense system,” said a group of NJ lawmakers and Senators including Herb Conaway, Cory Booker, and Andy Kim. They expressed concerns about ICE raids expanding and condemned using the military for domestic immigration enforcement.
The timing of the opening is unclear and depends on Homeland Security coordination. The bases are key military sites with tens of thousands of personnel, making the decision highly controversial.
This follows recent immigration enforcement funding increases, including $45 billion for detention facilities, signed into law by President Trump. The administration has also opened other detention centers, like the notorious “Alligator Alcatraz” camp in Florida.
