Camp Atterbury Confirmed for ICE Immigrant Detention Amid Overcrowding

Indiana's Camp Atterbury has been confirmed by multiple sources to be used as a temporary detention site for migrants by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to a July 15 letter from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The letter states that this plan will not negatively impact military training or readiness at Camp Atterbury or Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey, and the move is driven by overcrowding in existing ICE facilities. Congressman André Carson expressed strong concerns about the use of the military base for detainees, citing the inhumane conditions at other ICE detention centers and the increase in detainees and related deaths since President Trump's term began. Carson also criticized ICE's enforcement practices, arguing they disproportionately target families and individuals without criminal offenses, and vowed to monitor conditions at Camp Atterbury closely. The Indiana National Guard is cooperating with the Department of Defense and Homeland Security but has not disclosed specifics about detainee arrivals or numbers. The plan reflects the Trump administration’s approach to managing immigration detention amid a capacity crisis in federal facilities.