The Pentagon said Friday it is making plans to also house illegal adult immigrants on its military bases in addition to the 20,000 children already requested by the Trump administration.
As part of the “prudent planning,” the military is looking nationwide at potential installations that could be used if the Department of Homeland Security makes an official request, said Lt. Col. Jamie Davis, a Defense Department spokesman.
“At this time, there has been no request from DHS for DOD support to house illegal migrants,” Davis said in a released statement.
The possibility of thousands more adults being detained on military bases comes amid President Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration and a political furor over his administration’s temporarily abandoned policy of separating children caught crossing the border from their families.
The president issued an order Wednesday which would prevent his “zero-tolerance” policy from splitting up immigrant family units attempting to enter the country between official ports of entry.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon also confirmed Friday that it is considering the construction of new facilities, including tent cities, to house up to 20,000 unaccompanied immigrant children who could be apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border in the future.
Three military bases in Texas and one in Arkansas are being looked at by the Department of Health and Human Services. But the agency has not yet notified the Pentagon if it will end up using the bases.
