Background on the Current Administration and Migrant Detention
The construction of a large-scale migrant detention center at a US military base in Texas has been announced by the Pentagon. This move continues the Trump administration’s trend of using military resources to enforce its immigration policies. Although similar detention efforts occurred under Joe Biden’s administration, they primarily involved child migrants.
Trump Administration’s Intensified Migrant Detention
Under Donald Trump’s presidency, the detention of undocumented immigrants in the US has been intensified. Border crossings have been suppressed, and hundreds of thousands of individuals have lost their legal status. Since taking office, Trump has sent migrants to the Naval Base at Guantánamo, though in much smaller numbers than initially planned.
Fort Bliss Detention Center Plan
According to the Pentagon, the initial plan is to hold 1,000 migrants at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas by mid-to-late August. Subsequently, a facility with 5,000 beds will be constructed in “the coming weeks and months.”
“Once completed, this will become the largest federal migrant detention center in history for this critical mission: the deportation of illegal aliens,” stated Kingsley Wilson, Pentagon spokesperson, to the press.
Although the facility is being built on a military base, the Department of Homeland Security will be responsible for managing the migrants.
Previous Migrant Detention in US Military Bases
The detention of migrants in US military bases is not new. Even under Joe Biden’s administration, the Pentagon had approved a request to house unaccompanied migrant children in military facilities in Texas.
- The current administration is also constructing other detention centers for migrants.
- A 1,000-bed center in Indiana is nearing completion.
The number of migrants detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has reached record levels in recent weeks, with approximately 57,000 apprehensions by July 27, according to ICE data.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: Who is responsible for managing migrants in the new detention center? A: The Department of Homeland Security, even though the facility is being built on a military base.
- Q: How many migrants are initially planned to be detained at Fort Bliss? A: 1,000 migrants by mid-to-late August.
- Q: What is the ultimate capacity of the detention center at Fort Bliss? A: 5,000 beds once construction is completed.
- Q: Has the US military previously been involved in migrant detention? A: Yes, under both the Trump and Biden administrations, with approvals for housing unaccompanied migrant children in military facilities.
- Q: What is the current number of migrants detained by ICE? A: Approximately 57,000 apprehensions by July 27, according to ICE data.
