U.S.

Pentagon Preparing To House Migrants On Texas Military Bases

The U.S. military is acting on a request for logistical support from the Department of Homeland Security to house migrant detainees.

Pentagon Preparing To House Migrants On Texas Military Bases
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The Pentagon is preparing two U.S. military bases in Texas to house potentially thousands of detained people accused of trying to illegally cross the southern border. They are Fort Bliss Army base in El Paso and Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo.

Both CNN and NPR report the government will house migrant families at Fort Bliss and unaccompanied migrant children at Goodfellow. CNN also reports the Department of Homeland Security will ask the Pentagon to approve plans to house possibly more than 7,000 unaccompanied migrant children at Goodfellow in both tents and hardened structures.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says the military will provide logistical support, but the day-to-day operations will be run by outside agencies and government contractors. As of Monday, he hadn't confirmed further details. 

The U.S. military is acting on a request for logistical support from DHS to house detainees, which Mattis says is appropriate for it to do.

Additional reporting by Newsy affiliate CNN.