Migrant Tent Facilities at Guantanamo Bay Dismantled Amid Cost Concerns

The U.S. has dismantled many migrant tents at Guantanamo Bay, following a costly and controversial initiative launched during the Trump administration, raising concerns about resource management and the future of detention operations.

The U.S. has begun dismantling a portion of the migrant housing camp at Guantanamo Bay, as revealed by satellite images analyzed by BBC Verify. Under the Trump administration, a directive to expand the Guantanamo facility aimed to accommodate up to 30,000 migrants shortly after President Trump took office in January. Nevertheless, reports indicate that far fewer migrants were ever actually detained at the site.

This year, the Pentagon allocated approximately $38 million for deportation and detention operations at Guantanamo Bay within the first month alone, according to a Department of Defense representative. Recent satellite images show that by April 16, around two-thirds of the 260 tents initially set up for the operation had been dismantled.

When questioned about the tent removals, a U.S. defense official emphasized that this adjustment reflected a strategic use of resources rather than a decrease in operational readiness. Construction of the camp began just one day after Trump's announcement, with tents being erected between January 30 and February 12. Ongoing construction was notable until early March, with temporary structures appearing in aerial imagery.

The facility at Guantanamo serves a different function than the notorious military prison for suspected terrorists. Initial satellite images captured clusters of military tents, but subsequent photographs reveal a significant reduction by April 10 and further decreases by mid-April.

The current number of migrants remaining at the facility remains uncertain. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller recently asserted in a Fox News interview that the location was still operational, claiming numerous "foreign terrorist aliens" were present. The White House did not respond to inquiries regarding whether the removal of the tents indicated a shift in Trump’s strategy for the detention center.

While Trump initially promised to house 30,000 migrants at the base, a military official suggested that the initiative primarily supported a smaller population of approximately 2,500 detainees. Trump previously articulated the intention to detain undocumented migrants categorized as dangerous or as potential national security threats.

Since the operations began, reports indicate that roughly 400 migrants have been processed through Guantanamo, with a majority transferred back to U.S. facilities or deported to other countries. A recent delegation of five Democratic senators who visited the base expressed outrage over the expenditures and motivations of the administration, describing the situation as a misuse of military resources. They criticized the financial burden imposed on American taxpayers, claiming the costs of relocating migrants to Guantanamo amounted to tens of millions of dollars every month.

As scrutiny over the situation at Guantanamo Bay continues, questions persist regarding the future use and financial implications of these migrant operations.