Democrats express anger over the new plan to house
Military Bases to House Migrants
The Department of Defense will convert parts of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (NJ) and Camp Atterbury (IN) into “temporary soft-sided holding facilities” for undocumented immigrants, following a decision by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Democratic Backlash
Democratic lawmakers in New Jersey strongly oppose the move, calling it harmful to military readiness. “This is an inappropriate use of our national defense system and militarizes a radical immigration policy,” they said in a joint statement.
Military and Political Tensions
Officials insist military operations won’t be affected. Still, Democrats argue the plan “jeopardizes military preparedness and paves the way for ICE immigration raids in every New Jersey community.”
Wider Immigration Policy Shift
The move follows President Trump’s new immigration law, which allocates up to $170 billion for enforcement and detention. A new Florida facility—dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz”—has also opened as part of what’s described as the largest deportation effort in U.S. history.
