Military facilities in New Jersey and Indiana are set to be repurposed by the Department of Homeland Security to temporarily house undocumented immigrants, sparking backlash from Democratic lawmakers. Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey and Camp Atterbury in Indiana will serve as “temporary soft-sided holding facilities,” a decision attributed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Lawmakers from New Jersey have expressed concerns that this action could undermine military readiness, urging bipartisan efforts to reverse the decision. Both installations previously accommodated Afghan refugees after the U.S. withdrawal in 2021.
Democratic representatives criticized the militarization of immigration policy, arguing that it promotes an inhumane approach to handling immigrants and can lead to unlawful deportations. In a joint statement, they called this policy an inappropriate use of military resources, asserting that it places undue strain on military capabilities and could facilitate immigration raids throughout New Jersey communities. Key figures in this opposition include Reps. Herb Conaway, LaMonica McIver, and several others, including U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim.
The timeline for opening these facilities remains uncertain, contingent on operational needs and coordination with Homeland Security. The Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst stands out as a tri-service military installation, spanning 42,000 acres and housing around 45,000 military and civilian personnel, marking it as one of the East Coast’s most significant bases. Meanwhile, Camp Atterbury, covering 34,000 acres, has been utilized for training and large-scale operations.
Homeland Security has utilized detention facilities for immigrants during the asylum process under previous administrations. Hegseth has reassured lawmakers that the new use of these bases will not negatively impact military training or readiness, as communicated in a letter to Rep. Conaway. Currently, New Jersey already has immigration detention centers such as Delaney Hall and the Elizabeth Detention Center, which are operated privately.
The announcement closely follows President Donald Trump’s signing of the Big Beautiful Bill, allocating substantial funding towards immigration enforcement, including a significant portion earmarked for expanding detention facilities. This legislative action is part of the administration’s aggressive strategy to implement large-scale deportations. Furthermore, earlier in the month, a new immigration detention camp referred to as “Alligator Alcatraz” was established in Florida’s Everglades, highlighting the firm stance the administration is taking regarding immigration enforcement.
As the situation unfolds, the implications for military readiness and community dynamics in New Jersey continue to stir considerable debate among lawmakers, with Democrats arguing for a reevaluation of the role of military installations in domestic immigration policy. They assert that national defense should not be co-opted for political agendas, urging collaboration across party lines to address humanitarian concerns associated with undocumented immigration. The discourse reflects a broader national conversation about immigration policy and its intersections with military and community resources.
