Democrats Fume After Secretary Hegseth Says Military Bases in New Jersey and Indiana will Temporarily House Illegal Aliens

Announcement of Housing Illegal Aliens on Military Bases

- Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced military bases will temporarily house illegal aliens.

- Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey and Camp Atterbury in Indiana will be used for this purpose.

Reaction from New Jersey Democrats

- New Jersey Democrats expressed anger over the Defense Department’s decision.

- They claimed it could impact military preparedness, despite having supported this action for Afghan refugees in 2021.

- Democrats urged Republicans to help reverse the decision.

Usage of Bases for Housing

- Bases will operate as "temporary soft-sided holding facilities. "

- Decision on when the sites will open depends on operational needs and coordination with Homeland Security.

Background on Previous Use

- Both bases previously housed thousands of Afghan refugees after the U. S. withdrawal in 2021.

Defense Department's Assurance

- The Defense Secretary assured that military operations will not be affected by housing illegal aliens on base.

Context of Illegal Immigration

- Under the Biden administration, an estimated 20 million illegal aliens entered the U. S. due to open border policies. 

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/07/democrats-fume-after-secretary-hegseth-says-military-bases/