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The administration of President Donald Trump plans to expand the use of military bases in New Jersey and Indiana to detain immigrants who have entered the United States illegally, according to a letter from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to the Pentagon obtained by NPR.
The document, dated July 15, confirms that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the request submitted the previous month by the DHS, which seeks immediate access to Camp Atterbury (a National Guard base in Indiana) and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey.
Expansion of capacity and use of the National Guard
The plan includes increasing to 1,000 spaces at these two military bases, as well as doubling the detention capacity at the Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba, to accommodate approximately 400 immigrants, compared to the 200 it could previously receive.
According to the cited source, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), under the supervision of the DHS, will be responsible for the custody, feeding, transportation, and medical care of migrants, with a 24/7 presence at each center, according to the correspondence mentioned by NPR.
The administration is also looking to involve the National Guard in immigration control activities, including "night operations, interdictions in rural areas, guard duties, and crowd control" in detention centers.
The Pentagon has already approved the deployment of 700 National Guard members in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas, and hundreds more are expected to be called to operate in other states such as Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, South Carolina, Utah, and Virginia.
Migration context
Currently, DHS is holding nearly 57,000 immigrants in custody, despite having only about 41,000 beds in its detention centers. In light of this deficit, the department has turned to agreements with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, local authorities, and now with the Department of Defense to use military facilities.
Immigrant detention megacenters
Last week, the Trump Administration announced its interest in building five new mega detention centers in various states governed by Republicans, following the model of the "Alligator Alcatraz" in Florida, a prison located in a swampy area full of alligators that has sparked significant controversy.
The Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, confirmed that they are in talks with five state governments to "replicate" the installation in Florida, as part of a new offensive against irregular immigration in the United States, reported the news agency EFE.
These statements were supported by Stephen Miller, Trump's adviser and architect of his immigration policies, who urged all Republican states to join the effort.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Expansion of Immigrant Detention Centers on U.S. Military Bases.
Why is the Trump administration expanding detention centers at military bases?
The Trump administration seeks to increase the capacity to detain immigrants due to the saturation of existing detention centers. Currently, the DHS is holding nearly 57,000 immigrants, exceeding its official capacity. The expansion in military bases is part of a strategy to manage the migration crisis and ensure the deportation of undocumented immigrants.
What role does the Guantanamo Naval Base play in Trump's immigration policy?
The Guantánamo Naval Base has been designated to accommodate up to 30,000 immigrants as part of the Trump administration's plan to relieve pressure on detention centers in the U.S. The aim is to use Guantánamo for detainees deemed "high-risk," despite criticism over its human rights violation record and legal concerns regarding extraterritorial detentions.
How is the National Guard getting involved in immigration control operations?
The Trump administration has requested the deployment of 20,000 National Guard members to assist with immigration raid operations within the country. This deployment aims to strengthen the enforcement of immigration laws and increase the operational capacity of ICE, although it has raised concerns about the militarization of immigration policies.
What is the response of the international community and the Cuban government to these measures?
The Cuban government has described the actions of the U.S. as "brutality," warning of the possible "serious consequences" of expanding detention capacity in Guantánamo. Furthermore, the international community and human rights organizations have criticized the use of facilities like Guantánamo for the detention of migrants due to its history of abuses.
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