1 month ago
33
(NewsNation) — The Department of Defense is readying to usage 2 U.S. subject bases to location detained migrants, according to a missive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The letter, archetypal obtained by NJ Spotlight News, was sent connected July 15 to the House Committee connected Armed Services and members of Congress representing the areas wherever the bases are located. Hegseth writes that the program “will not negatively impact subject training, operations, readiness oregon different subject requirements, including National Guard oregon Reserve readiness.”
Hegseth identified Camp Atterbury successful Indiana and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst successful New Jersey arsenic the 2 bases that would temporarily location migrants but did not supply a fig of however galore would beryllium moved determination oregon when.
An authoritative from the Department of Defense told NewsNation spouse The Hill successful a statement that Hegseth had “approved a Department of Homeland Security petition for assistance” to usage the 2 bases, adding that “temporary soft-sided holding facilities,” would beryllium established.
The facilities would beryllium akin to the structure structures successful spot astatine the detention halfway successful Florida dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.”
On Friday, White House Border Czar Tom Homan told reporters extracurricular the White House that ICE detention facilities person astir 60,000 beds for detained migrants but request 100,000.
“I woke up 1 morning, we had little than 200 beds, we’ll capable them by fractional a day. So, we are perpetually having to alteration formation arrangements and determination deportations arsenic rapidly arsenic we tin to bare beds,” Homan said. “We shouldn’t beryllium successful that position.”
A radical of Democratic lawmakers successful New Jersey posted a statement to societal media Friday condemning the determination to usage the bases writing, “this is an inappropriate usage of our nationalist defence system.”
This would not beryllium the archetypal clip subject bases person been utilized to location migrants. In 2014, the Obama administration temporarily utilized subject bases to location migrant children during a surge astatine the border. During the Biden administration, immoderate U.S. bases were besides utilized to temporarily location Afghan refugees.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has said she’s been successful interaction with different states astir opening further migrant detention facilities similar “Alligator Alcatraz.”
Without confirming that they person been contacted, spokespersons for governors successful South Carolina, Mississippi and Texas person told NewsNation they are ready to assist successful Trump’s migration enforcement plans.
