Trump Plans to Detain 30,000 Migrants at Guantanamo

Donald Trump has announced plans to detain 30,000 illegal migrants at Guantanamo Bay, a prison historically used for terrorism suspects.

Advertisement
Trump Plans to Detain 30,000 Migrants at Guantanamo

Former US President Donald Trump has announced plans to detain 30,000 undocumented migrants at Guantanamo Bay, a military prison historically used for terrorism suspects. This move, part of his renewed crackdown on illegal immigration, has drawn significant attention.

Guantanamo Bay: A Controversial Prison

History and Purpose

  • Opened in January 2002 under George W. Bush after the 9/11 attacks.
  • Located on a US naval base in southeastern Cuba, leased under a 1903 treaty.
  • Used to detain enemy combatants, denying them traditional US legal rights.

Attempts to Shut It Down

  • Barack Obama and Joe Biden attempted to close the facility, but Congress blocked efforts.
  • Plans to relocate detainees to mainland US prisons failed due to local opposition.

Trump’s Plan: Migrants at Guantanamo

Trump signed an executive order instructing the Pentagon and Homeland Security to begin preparing the facility.

  • “We have 30,000 beds for the worst criminal illegal aliens,” Trump said.
  • Claimed some migrants are too dangerous to be deported back to their home countries.
  • Called Guantanamo a “tough place to get out of.”

Has Guantanamo Housed Migrants Before?

Yes. Migrants have been held in a separate area for decades.

  • Between 2020 and 2023, 37 migrants were detained.
  • Under Trump’s intensified crackdown, this number may rise sharply.

Current Prisoner Status

Since 2002, Guantanamo has held 800 detainees; today, only 15 remain:

  • 3 eligible for transfer
  • 3 under review
  • 7 face charges
  • 2 convicted

Biden’s administration recently released 11 Yemeni prisoners.

Notorious Detainees

Among the most well-known prisoners:

  • Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, mastermind of 9/11.
  • Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, responsible for the USS Cole bombing.
  • More than 55% of detainees were later found not involved in hostile acts.

Human Rights Controversies

Guantanamo has faced international criticism for alleged human rights violations:

  • Force-feeding of hunger strikers, deemed torture by critics.
  • Harsh interrogation tactics and indefinite detention without trial.
  • At least nine detainees have died, seven from apparent suicides.

What’s Next?

With Trump’s latest move, Guantanamo Bay is set to remain a focal point of US immigration policy and human rights debates.