Military Bases Approved for Immigrant Detention Use

The Trump administration has approved the temporary use of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey and Camp Atterbury in Indiana to house immigration detainees, as part of a nationwide expansion of immigration enforcement. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth assured Congress that military readiness would not be impacted by this decision. New Jersey's Democratic congressional delegation condemned the move, arguing that using military resources for domestic political purposes is unacceptable and could threaten military preparedness. Critics also warn that this action could increase ICE raids and set a precedent for the militarization of immigration policy. The administration maintains that the additional capacity will support its mass deportation agenda, despite opposition from local officials and activists. The number of detainees to be housed and specific transfer timelines remain unclear.