Sends first group of migrants under the new detention policy
The US has sent the first group of migrants to Guantánamo Bay prison under Trump’s new detention policy. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the detainees belong to the Tren de Aragua gang from Venezuela.
Trump recently ordered the expansion of the prison migrant facility to accommodate around 30,000 undocumented migrants. This move is part of his broader strategy to crack down on illegal immigration and increase deportations.
The DHS released several photographs showing the detainees being taken onto a plane for their transfer. Two US officials told CBS that the detainees were classified as a “high-threat” group due to their background. Trump recently designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization to target violent gangs and criminal networks.
The Guantánamo Bay prison migrant operations center has been used for decades by Republican and Democratic administrations. It has primarily housed migrants intercepted at sea before being processed for deportation or relocation. Trump’s immigration enforcement chief, Tom Homan, confirmed that ICE would oversee the expanded facility.
During his announcement, Trump argued that some migrants are too dangerous for their home countries to detain.
Over the weekend, US military personnel arrived at the facility to set up tents for incoming detainees. The New York Times and CNN reported that preparations for expansion had already begun before the official announcement. Last year, the International Refugee Assistance Project accused the US of secretly detaining migrants at the facility.
The group alleged that migrants were being held indefinitely in inhumane conditions without proper legal oversight. However, the Biden administration denied these allegations, claiming that the prison was not functioning as a detention center. The prison migrant facility is separate from the military prison that holds post-9/11 terror detainees. This facility has long been controversial, with human rights groups questioning its use for migrant detention.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned the expansion of the facility, calling it “an act of brutality.” Cuba has repeatedly demanded the US withdraw from Guantánamo Bay prison, which it considers occupied territory. Since Fidel Castro’s rise to power in 1959, Cuba has opposed the presence of a US naval base there.
The expansion of Guantánamo Bay prison will likely face criticism from international organizations and immigrant advocacy groups. Trump insists that this policy will protect American citizens and prevent violent criminals from reentering the US. His administration argues that the facility provides a secure location to house high-risk individuals.
With the facility’s expansion, the US now doubles its capacity to detain undocumented migrants awaiting deportation.
