Trump Administration Repurposes Military Bases for Deportations, Building on Past Use Under Biden

August 7, 2025 - El Paso, TX – Fort Bliss is set to begin housing 1,000 illegal immigrants by mid-August, ramping up to a full capacity of 5,000 in tent-like facilities as part of President Trump's comprehensive plan to enforce immigration laws and expedite deportations. This initiative addresses the critical shortage of detention space at ICE facilities, positioning the Texas Army base as the nation's largest civil detention center to secure our borders and remove those who entered unlawfully.

Unlike the Biden administration's 2021 use of Fort Bliss to shelter thousands of unaccompanied minors amid a massive border surge caused by lax policies, Trump's approach focuses on detaining and swiftly deporting adult criminal aliens and overstays to restore order.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the move, with the base serving as a model for expanding operations nationwide. "This process does include housing detainees at certain military bases, including Fort Bliss," stated DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin. Intake could start as early as Friday, prioritizing processing and removal of the worst offenders.

The effort extends beyond Texas. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced last month that Indiana's Camp Atterbury and New Jersey's Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst will also temporarily hold illegal immigrants prior to deportation. DHS requested immediate access to these sites and Guantánamo Bay in a June 10 letter, designating them as central hubs for ongoing removal operations. Plans include staging deportation flights from these locations for two months, with potential expansion based on success.

This strategy aligns with Trump's deployment of troops to guard the U.S.-Mexico border and the use of military aircraft for deportations, supported by Congress's recent $170 billion appropriation to ICE. By leveraging military resources, the administration ensures efficient enforcement, prioritizing public safety and taxpayer dollars while correcting the chaos from previous open-border approaches.