On Tuesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made a visit to the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base, revisiting a location where he had served in the early 2000s. Hegseth shared on social media that his trip aimed to gather insights on military efforts supporting the mass deportation strategy of the Donald Trump administration. His visit coincided with the arrival of new immigrants, a fact he noted on his platform, X.
According to two U.S. defense officials who spoke anonymously to Voice of America, a military C-130 aircraft carrying nine undocumented immigrants touched down at the base around midday, coming from Fort Bliss, Texas. The source identified these individuals as "high-threat illegal aliens." During his visit, Hegseth toured both the detention center and the immigrant processing facilities.
"These warriors are directly supporting the apprehension and deportation of dangerous illegal aliens," he stated on social media. He further described the base as a critical temporary stop in the processing of these risky immigrants prior to their eventual removal.
Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson also shared details of the visit through a video showcasing areas where immigrants categorized as "low and medium priority illegal aliens" are housed before deportation.
Details of Recent Immigrant Transfers
The flight on Tuesday marked the second transfer of detainees to Guantánamo from the U.S. mainland within a week. These new detainees joined 17 other immigrants sent from Fort Bliss to Guantánamo on Sunday. According to one of the officers cited by Voice of America, they were immediately transferred to the detention center under surveillance. A third official noted that another flight with more migrants is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday.
Last Thursday, ICE deported 177 detainees who had been at the base since the beginning of the week. Among them, over 120 were deemed dangerous criminals, including members of the Venezuelan gang known as Tren de Aragua, which the U.S. has designated as a foreign terrorist organization. The remaining 50 individuals were held at the migrant operations center, designed for non-violent immigrants awaiting deportation.
Criticism and Legal Challenges
To date, neither the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) nor Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have disclosed information regarding the identity, nationality, or potential crimes of the detained immigrants. However, transferring these individuals to Guantánamo is part of a strategy harshly criticized by human rights groups and immigrant advocacy organizations. Since Trump's administration enacted its new immigration policy, the base has become a pivotal location for the temporary detention of immigrants pending their final deportation.
Earlier this month, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other groups filed a lawsuit against the DHS, claiming that detainees in Guantánamo were denied access to legal counsel before deportation. The DHS has denied these allegations, asserting that the deportation process adheres to legal standards. Nonetheless, concerns remain among activists and immigrant rights defenders about the lack of transparency and Guantánamo's remote location, which they argue hinder oversight and access to justice for the detainees.
Expansion Plans for Guantánamo
The U.S. Southern Command, overseeing operations in Guantánamo, recently informed Congress that the base can accommodate up to 2,500 non-violent detainees, with efforts underway to expand that capacity to 30,000. President Trump's executive order has prompted the deployment of hundreds of Marines to the base to expedite facility expansion.
Upon returning to power on January 20, the Trump administration ordered the preparation of 30,000 beds to relocate "the worst criminal illegal immigrants who pose a threat to the American people." Since February 4, the U.S. has been transferring migrants, mostly Venezuelans, to the naval base. Despite expansion plans, CNN sources recently reported that the Trump Administration has temporarily halted the construction of tents to accommodate the initially planned 30,000 migrants. According to these sources, the infrastructure does not meet detention standards, and there have not been enough immigrants to justify building new facilities.
The Guantánamo Naval Base has long been a controversial detention center. In 2002, the George W. Bush administration established a prison there for terrorism suspects as part of the "War on Terror" following the September 11, 2001, attacks. Over the years, approximately 780 prisoners have passed through the facilities. Currently, only 15 detainees remain, with two having been convicted. The use of the base to detain illegal immigrants marks a new chapter in its history.
FAQs on Guantánamo's Role in Immigration Policy
What was the purpose of Pete Hegseth's visit to Guantánamo?
Hegseth visited Guantánamo to gather information on military efforts supporting the Trump administration’s mass deportation strategy.
Why are immigrants being transferred to Guantánamo?
The transfer is part of a strategy to detain immigrants temporarily before their deportation, a move that has faced criticism from human rights organizations.
What legal challenges have been raised against the detention of immigrants at Guantánamo?
The ACLU and other groups have filed a lawsuit alleging that detainees are denied access to legal counsel, a claim denied by the DHS.