WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) and Congressman Herb Conaway (NJ-03) announced that they received a response letter from the Department of Defense after requesting more information on the Trump Administration’s intent to house undocumented immigrants at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

“We are deeply disappointed in the Trump Administration’s failure to respond in a timely manner to our questions and concerns regarding housing undocumented immigrants at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst,” the lawmakers said. “The response we received this week did not answer any of our questions and provided no new information about how this plan would be executed. We will be requesting an in-person briefing on this matter as soon as possible so that we can receive answers and ensure undocumented immigrants who may be housed at the joint base receive humane treatment.”

After learning about the Trump Administration’s intent to house undocumented immigrants at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, the Congressmen visited the joint base to conduct their congressional duty of oversight and sent a letter to Secretary Hegseth, Secretary Noem, and Acting Director Lyons, demanding clarification and expressing opposition to the plan. The deadline for the federal agencies to respond to the letter was August 15, 2025. The Department of Defense is the first and only agency to respond.

On Monday, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs, M. Roosevelt Ditlevson, sent a letter to the Members in response to the letter they sent to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in July. The letter can be read here.

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