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.