Trump Administration Plans Military Sites for Immigrant Detention

The Trump administration is advancing plans to detain undocumented immigrants at military sites across the U.S., expanding on previous initiatives and aligning with the president’s mass deportation promises. A deportation hub is being developed at Fort Bliss, Texas, capable of holding up to 10,000 immigrants, serving as a model for additional facilities nationwide to address a shortage of space at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) centers. This initiative raises concerns regarding the militarization of immigration enforcement and the impact on military resources, as officials acknowledge that current arrest rates may not fill these facilities. Critics, including Gil Kerlikowske, have expressed concerns about the adequacy of conditions for detainees in military facilities. The plan is still in its early stages and has not yet been finalized, while the administration has already deployed troops to assist at the southern border. Despite efforts, ICE's recent arrests have not reached levels sufficient to populate the proposed detention network.