The proposed detention center, intended to hold up to 30,000 migrants, has faced backlash from human rights advocates and the Cuban government.
Trump Announces Construction of Migrant Detention Facility at Guantanamo Bay
Trump Announces Construction of Migrant Detention Facility at Guantanamo Bay
US President reveals plans for a new facility to accommodate thousands of migrants, stirring controversy.
14 hours ago, US President Donald Trump unveiled plans to construct a migrant detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, capable of housing up to 30,000 people. In a bid to address concerns over undocumented migrants, he described the facility as a means to detain “the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people.”
This facility, intended to operate separately from Guantanamo's notorious military prison, would reportedly be managed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Trump emphasized that migrants intercepted by the US Coast Guard will be transported to this center, asserting the adoption of the “highest” detention standards. Details regarding the project's cost and timeline remain undisclosed.
Trump's announcement coincided with the signing of the Laken Riley Act, which mandates the detention of undocumented immigrants charged with theft or violent crimes until their trial. The legislation, named after a Georgia nursing student killed by a Venezuelan migrant, has further solidified the administration's efforts to enhance border policies.
The proposal has drawn immediate ire from Cuba's government, which accused the US of continuing a history of torture on what it views as "occupied" territory. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned the plan as “an act of brutality,” while Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez denounced the US's approach as a violation of human rights and international law.
Amid protests against the detaining practices employed at Guantanamo, existing operations at the facility—known as the Guantanamo Migrant Operations Center (GMOC)—have been criticized by advocacy groups like the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP). They allege that migrants have been held in inhumane conditions after being picked up at sea, with some cases reported to last indefinitely. The Biden administration previously stated that GMOC is not considered a detention facility, a claim contradicted by Trump's administration's intent to expand its functions.
With legislative support anticipated from Congress for funding the facility's expansion, concerns are mounting regarding the future of migrant detention practices and their implications on human rights, violating a sentiment echoed by various international organizations. As the administration moves forward with its plans, the controversy surrounding the Guantanamo Bay migrant facility is likely to continue evolving.
This facility, intended to operate separately from Guantanamo's notorious military prison, would reportedly be managed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Trump emphasized that migrants intercepted by the US Coast Guard will be transported to this center, asserting the adoption of the “highest” detention standards. Details regarding the project's cost and timeline remain undisclosed.
Trump's announcement coincided with the signing of the Laken Riley Act, which mandates the detention of undocumented immigrants charged with theft or violent crimes until their trial. The legislation, named after a Georgia nursing student killed by a Venezuelan migrant, has further solidified the administration's efforts to enhance border policies.
The proposal has drawn immediate ire from Cuba's government, which accused the US of continuing a history of torture on what it views as "occupied" territory. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned the plan as “an act of brutality,” while Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez denounced the US's approach as a violation of human rights and international law.
Amid protests against the detaining practices employed at Guantanamo, existing operations at the facility—known as the Guantanamo Migrant Operations Center (GMOC)—have been criticized by advocacy groups like the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP). They allege that migrants have been held in inhumane conditions after being picked up at sea, with some cases reported to last indefinitely. The Biden administration previously stated that GMOC is not considered a detention facility, a claim contradicted by Trump's administration's intent to expand its functions.
With legislative support anticipated from Congress for funding the facility's expansion, concerns are mounting regarding the future of migrant detention practices and their implications on human rights, violating a sentiment echoed by various international organizations. As the administration moves forward with its plans, the controversy surrounding the Guantanamo Bay migrant facility is likely to continue evolving.
