TWO MILITARY BASES TO HOUSE IMMIGRANT DETAINEES: WHAT SERVICE MEMBERS NEED TO KNOW
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently announced plans to use two military installations—Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey and Camp Atterbury in Indiana—to temporarily house immigrants detained on military bases as part of the Trump administration's expanded immigration enforcement efforts. This decision has sparked debate among lawmakers about potential impacts on military readiness and operations.
Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about this use of military resources. Rep. Herb Conaway, who represents the area around Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, called the plan "inappropriate use of the military." The New Jersey congressional delegation stated this approach, "jeopardizes military preparedness and paves the way for ICE immigration raids."
Hegseth has pushed back on these concerns. He told lawmakers the detention facilities, "will not negatively affect military training, operations, readiness, or other military requirements, including National Guard, and Reserve readiness."
Let's examine what we know about these plans, look at historical precedent, and discuss what this could mean for other military installations.
Have Military Bases Housed Immigrants & Refugees Before?
While many service members remember military installations housing Afghan refugees during the 2021 withdrawal, immigrants housed on military bases isn't entirely new.
2014 Surge Under Obama: During a massive influx of Central American immigrants, President Obama temporarily used military installations to house unaccompanied children.
Fort Bliss in Texas was one of the primary locations, and housing up to 1,800 children while officials worked to identify adults who could care for them during court proceedings.
The children stayed an average of 35 days at these facilities. Military and Defense Department personnel weren't involved in operations—civilian contractors handled all care, medical screening, and supervision.
2016 Continuation: This practice continued into 2016, with Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico temporarily sheltering migrant children before officially closing its doors to this mission.
These historical examples involved unaccompanied minors, not adult detainees like the current plan envisions.
What We Know & Don't Know About Current Plans
What We Know:
- Two specific installations have been identified: Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and Camp Atterbury
- DHS plans to house up to 1,000 people at each location
- ICE will maintain 24/7 oversight and provide all care, transportation, and security
- No military personnel will be directly involved in detention operations
- The arrangement runs through September 30, 2025
- DHS will pay DOD for costs at McGuire Field
- Pentagon memos indicate facilities will house "single adult, non-high-threat illegal aliens" with suspected links to criminal organizations
What We Still Don't Know:
- Timeline: When construction will begin, when detainees will arrive, or how long setup will take
- Resource allocation: Exactly which military resources will be used and how
- Expansion plans: Whether additional military installations are being considered for housing illegal immigrants on military bases
- Operational details: How detention facilities will be constructed and where on base they'll be located
Military officials at both installations report they're "in the dark" about specifics and haven't received orders to begin preparations.
What This Means for Service Members
If You're Stationed at Affected Bases: Service members at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and Camp Atterbury should expect potential changes in base traffic patterns, security procedures, and possibly restricted access to certain areas once operations begin.
Base commanders have assured that military operations will continue unaffected, but the physical presence of detention facilities and increased civilian contractor activity could create logistical changes.
For Other Installations: The Trump administration has requested access to 20,000 National Guard members for immigration enforcement operations.
With current detention capacity at about 57,000 beds nationwide and goals to expand to 100,000, additional military installations could potentially be identified for similar missions.
Congress recently authorized $45 billion for immigration detention centers and $30 billion for additional ICE personnel and transportation costs, suggesting this effort will continue expanding.
Stay Informed: Military families should monitor official base communications and local news for updates. Base leadership will likely provide guidance as more details emerge about timeline and implementation.
The use of military installations to house detained immigrants represents a significant policy shift that could affect multiple bases nationwide. While officials promise no impact on military readiness, the long-term implications for immigrants detained on military bases and the installations that house them remain to be seen.
Service members deserve clear, timely information about how these changes might affect their duty stations and daily operations. As this situation develops, staying connected with official base channels and command guidance will be essential for understanding how these policies impact military families and communities.
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