U. S. Marines guarding a temporary migrant holding facility.
U.S. Marines guarding a temporary migrant holding facility.

Migrant Detention Camp at Ocean County’s Joint Base MDL Announced

by
July 18, 2025
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LAKEHURST, N.J. — The Department of Defense has approved the temporary use of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey as a detention facility for criminal migrants, according to a letter sent to U.S. lawmakers by the Pentagon this week.

In a July 15 letter addressed to Rep. Herb Conway and others, the Pentagon confirmed that the joint base will be used by the Department of Homeland Security to house individuals in the country illegally, stating the move will not interfere with military training, readiness, or operations.

Migrant detention camp at ocean county's joint base mdl announced
Seabeas construction migrant detention facility at guantanamo bay.

“I certify that the provision of Department of Defense real property…for temporary use by the Department of Homeland Security to house illegal aliens will not negatively affect military training, operations, readiness, or other military requirements,” the letter read.

The site, which was previously used to house Afghan evacuees following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, is now being designated for migrant detention operations focused on individuals with criminal records.

Camp Atterbury in Indiana was also approved for similar use, according to the Defense Department.

The Department of Homeland Security has not released further details regarding the timeline for the facility’s activation or its capacity.

Joint Base MDL will now again serve as a federal housing site—this time for detained migrants with criminal histories under DHS custody.

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