Military Bases in New Jersey, Indiana Expanded for Immigrant Detention

The Department of Homeland Security, under President Donald Trump's administration, has received approval from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to use military bases in New Jersey and Indiana, specifically Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and Camp Atterbury, as temporary detention sites for immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally. ICE will maintain 24/7 oversight, handling detainee care, including meals and medical services, while Defense Department officials stated that the presence of detainees will not disrupt military operations or readiness. Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita expressed strong support for the move, framing it as a way to restore the rule of law and alleviate the strain of illegal immigration on local communities. However, local officials and Democratic lawmakers, including New Jersey's Herb Conaway and Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim, condemned the use of military bases for immigration detention, criticizing it as an inappropriate militarization of immigration policy that risks inhumane treatment and threatens community safety. Concerns have also been raised about ICE's enforcement actions and detainee conditions, with some officials seeking more transparency. The plan reflects the administration's broader push to expand immigration detention capacity amid a surge in detentions, aiming to increase available beds from about 60,000 to 100,000 nationwide.