Indiana Congressman Carson Seeks DHS Confirmation on Camp Atterbury Migrant Detention Plans

Indiana Congressman André Carson has expressed serious concerns regarding reports that Camp Atterbury, a military training facility, may be repurposed as an immigration detention center amid the Trump Administration's increased deportation efforts. Carson has sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem seeking clarification on whether there are concrete plans for this use, the timeline, and how detainees will be treated to ensure due process and humane conditions. He highlighted ethical and legal issues surrounding mass deportations, including arrests and detentions without due process, and the potential negative impact on military readiness and national security. The DHS has acknowledged it is exploring all options to address detention capacity shortages, as ICE detention numbers have exceeded Congress-approved bed allocations. Carson also raised concerns about transparency, taxpayer costs, community engagement, and oversight at Camp Atterbury, which has previously housed Afghan evacuees and Ukrainian refugees but not immigration detainees under enforcement authority. The escalating detainee population and overcrowded facilities have driven DHS to consider underused military bases, including Camp Atterbury, as temporary detention sites.