EDINBURGH, Ind. – Indiana’s Camp Atterbury will be used to detain immigrant detainees under a new federal plan revealed this week by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Hegseth outlined the move in a July 15 letter to Congressional members, naming Camp Atterbury and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey as two sites available “for temporary use by the Department of Homeland Security to house illegal aliens.” The letter was first published late Thursday by NJ Spotlight News.
The defense secretary additionally noted that holding detainees at the bases “will not negatively affect military training, operations, readiness, or other military requirements, including National Guard and Reserve readiness.”
The letter appeared to confirm the Trump administration’s plans to utilize military bases amid a capacity crisis in federal immigration facilities. Federal officials have cited overcrowding in Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities as the reason for seeking additional space.
The Indiana Capital Chronicle reported in May that Camp Atterbury had been floated as a possible location under consideration, but federal officials declined to confirm it at the time.
It remains unclear when detainees might begin arriving at the Indiana facility or how many individuals could be housed there. Camp Atterbury in Edinburgh is a federally owned facility that is licensed to and operated by the Indiana National Guard.
Lauren Houck, a spokesperson for the Indiana National Guard, told the Capital Chronicle on Friday that the Indiana National Guard is “currently working” with DOD and DHS officials. She did not provide details about when or how many detainees are expected to arrive at Camp Atterbury, nor did she indicate where exactly detainees would be housed.
“Camp Atterbury is a federal installation and may be used at the discretion of the federal government,” she said. “We will communicate information when we have appropriate details.”
Staff in Republican U.S. Sen. Todd Young’s office told the Capital Chronicle they received the letter Friday and “have asked the Trump Administration for more information about its plans for possible detention operations at Camp Atterbury.”
Democratic U.S. Rep. André Carson earlier demanded answers from federal officials about the potential use of the base for detentions. He said the use of Camp Atterbury for immigration purposes raises “serious questions” and flagged concerns about legal rights, humane treatment, and national security.
DHS had not responded publicly to the letter as of Friday, according to Carson’s office.
“I remain concerned on this use of Camp Atterbury given the deplorable and inhumane conditions at other ICE detention facilities nationwide,” the congressman said in a Friday statement. He emphasized that both the number of detainees and deaths in ICE custody have risen since former President Donald Trump returned to office.
Carson added that expanding detention space in Indiana is “disturbing,” and said Camp Atterbury should not be used to facilitate what he called “unlawful actions.”
Read the entire Casey Smith story for the Indiana Capital Chronicle here.
