INDIANA – An Indiana congressman is speaking out against a newly confirmed plan to utilize Camp Atterbury for the detention of undocumented immigrants.
Democratic Rep. Andre Carson announced that the U.S. Department of Defense has confirmed its intent to use the military base, which spans parts of Bartholomew, Johnson, and Brown counties, for this purpose.
In a letter sent to members of Congress last week, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reportedly confirmed the plan, asserting that using Camp Atterbury as a detention site would not “negatively affect ongoing military training, operations, readiness or other military requirements.”
However, Rep. Carson voiced strong opposition on Friday, stating that he had sought confirmation and asked several questions of administration officials in May, which remain unanswered.
In a released statement, Carson expressed deep concern: “I remain concerned on this use of Camp Atterbury given the deplorable and inhumane conditions at other ICE detention facilities nationwide. … The Hoosier state should not facilitate these unlawful actions.” He further added his dismay that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requires such an expansion of detention space into Indiana.
Carson concluded by stating his intention to “actively monitor activities at Camp Atterbury to ensure humane and sanitary conditions.”
