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Controversial Plan to Utilize Guantanamo for Immigrant Detention Announced by Trump
In a move that underscores his administration’s tough stance on immigration, President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that the United States plans to repurpose a detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to incarcerate what he termed the “worst criminal aliens.” This announcement came during the signing ceremony for the Laken Riley Act, a legislative initiative aimed at bolstering immigration enforcement.
Trump expressed his intention to transfer thousands of deportable immigrants to this facility, stating, “We’re going to send them out to Guantanamo.” The president also issued a memorandum directing federal authorities to prepare housing for immigrants unlawfully present in the U.S. who have criminal records.
Tom Homan, the administration’s “border czar,” confirmed that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will oversee the proposed facility, although the finer details of this initiative remain vague.
Guantanamo’s History with Immigrant Detention
Guantanamo Bay, often associated with high-profile detainees since the September 11 attacks, also includes a lesser-known Migrant Operations Center, which has been used for decades to detain migrants intercepted at sea, primarily from Haiti and Cuba.
This center currently occupies a small area of the naval base, consisting of minimal infrastructure and lacking the capacity to accommodate the tens of thousands of detainees mentioned by Trump. Homan indicated that plans would involve expanding existing facilities.
Administration officials characterized the facility as a solution for housing the “worst of the worst.” However, the formal statements from the White House were more ambiguous, suggesting that the expansion seeks to add space to detain high-priority criminal aliens without specifying numbers.
A government insider, who spoke anonymously, noted that the facility would likely target individuals classified as “dangerous criminals,” particularly those who present challenges in deportation due to their home countries’ refusal to accept them.
Public Concerns and Legal Implications
The proposed expansion raises alarm among advocacy groups. The International Refugee Assistance Project previously described the facility as operating under “prison-like” conditions, stating that detainees often find themselves trapped in a system without accountability or clear due process.
Deepa Alagesan, a senior attorney with the organization, warned that the plan to utilize Guantanamo for more immigrants is alarming, reflecting fears of the potential for abuse within a punitive system.
Despite Trump’s emphasis on the dangers posed by the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S., research has generally shown no significant correlation between immigration and violent crime. Studies consistently reveal that immigrant communities contribute positively to their locales.
The current budget for ICE only allows for the detention of about 41,000 individuals, with existing facilities primarily spread across processing centers, privately operated jails, and local prisons. There are no centers dedicated to family unit detentions, which represent a substantial portion of those arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Historical Context of Military Base Use for Detention
This isn’t the first instance where the U.S. military has housed migrants. Since the 1970s, U.S. military bases have served as temporary lodgings for various refugee groups, including those fleeing conflicts in Vietnam and Cuba. Notably, both Trump and former President Barack Obama authorized military bases for detaining migrant children during times of heightened border crossings.
The decision to use Guantanamo for immigrant detention has drawn criticism both domestically and internationally. Critics argue that such actions contribute to a narrative characterizing migrants as threats rather than individuals in search of safety and opportunity.
Cuban officials reacted strongly to the announcement, with President Miguel Díaz-Canel labeling it an “act of brutality” and highlighting the territorial disputes surrounding the base. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez condemned the move, suggesting it reflects a broader disrespect for human rights and international standards.
As this policy unfolds, it is expected to provoke significant debate over the treatment of immigrants and the implications of using a facility with Guantanamo’s controversial history.
Source
abcnews.go.com