In a significant move to address the growing concerns over illegal immigration, President Donald Trump signed a memo on Wednesday that marks the beginning of preparations for a new facility aimed at housing thousands of migrants at the U.S. military base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. This directive, aimed at what Trump described as a strategy to “halt the border invasion,” takes a bold stance in managing the nation's immigration crisis.
The memo, which was sent to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Defense, directs both agencies to "expand the Migrant Operations Center at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay to full capacity." This move is intended to provide additional detention space for individuals who are considered to be high-priority criminal aliens unlawfully present in the United States. Trump's memo emphasizes a clear and strong position on immigration enforcement and control.
Speaking at a ceremony for the signing of the Laken Riley Act—an immigration detention measure—Trump made his intentions known, telling the public he would be instructing both the Department of Defense and Homeland Security to start preparing a massive facility at Guantánamo Bay, designed to house up to 30,000 migrants. He pointed out that many people are unaware of the potential that the Guantánamo base holds, boasting that the facility could provide 30,000 beds to detain what he described as "the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people."
What’s even more striking is Trump's emphasis on the severity of some of these criminals. "Some of them are so bad we don’t even trust the countries to hold them, because we don’t want them coming back," Trump added, highlighting the national security concerns that many of these individuals present. This statement emphasizes his administration's unwavering commitment to protecting American citizens by prioritizing the removal of dangerous individuals from the U.S.
On Fox News, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth further supported Trump’s directive, calling Guantánamo Bay the "perfect spot" for the detention of migrants who have been apprehended or are awaiting deportation. He argued that by moving the detainees to Guantánamo Bay, they could be “safely maintained” until they are deported to their respective countries. “We know we can execute it, and the Defense Department is prepared to do everything we can,” Hegseth stated, underlining the readiness of the Department of Defense to carry out this significant shift in immigration policy.
Interestingly, the announcement caught many officials at the Pentagon off guard. Multiple defense officials revealed that they were surprised by the plan, as the mission's details and scope were not fully communicated in advance. According to one Pentagon official, it remains unclear whether the U.S. military would be directly involved in the operation, as the mission is primarily framed as a responsibility for the DHS. The Pentagon has yet to receive any further orders or guidance beyond the memo issued by the White House.
Another point of confusion surrounding the announcement is the actual number of beds available at Guantánamo Bay for migrants. Some officials have expressed uncertainty about whether the existing facilities are equipped for such an operation or if new infrastructure would be needed to accommodate the influx of detainees. There are also questions regarding whether this would be a short-term or long-term solution, with some suggesting that there are no plans to upgrade or change the military facilities at Guantánamo in the immediate future.
One official, who requested anonymity, mentioned that the Guantánamo mission might be a short-term operation that could be supported by the expansion of a Migrant Operations Center on the naval base. The expansion, which could involve military construction, would likely be managed by the Department of Homeland Security. This reflects a potential pivot in how migrant detention is handled, shifting the responsibility to the DHS rather than the military.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem weighed in on the discussion in a CNN interview, suggesting that there might be specific resources at Guantánamo Bay that could be allocated for detaining "the worst of the worst" criminal aliens. She confirmed that President Trump and DHS officials were assessing these resources and considering how best to deploy them. This statement hints at the possibility of a specialized facility within Guantánamo dedicated to those who pose the most significant threats to national security.
The Guantánamo Bay facility, which became a well-known detention site after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, has a long history of housing detainees. Under President George W. Bush, detainees were first sent to Guantánamo in 2002. The base’s detention center has been the subject of controversy over the years, particularly concerning the treatment of detainees and the legal issues surrounding indefinite detention. Both President Barack Obama and President Joe Biden have expressed intentions to close the detention facility, but neither was successful in doing so during their respective terms in office.
Currently, the Defense Department reports that 15 detainees remain at Guantánamo Bay. Recently, the U.S. transferred 11 Yemeni detainees to Oman after holding them at the base for over two decades. Despite the long-standing controversies surrounding the facility, Trump’s administration seems committed to reactivating it for a very different purpose—immigration detention.
Trump’s broader strategy to combat illegal immigration has been a hallmark of his presidency, particularly in his second term. His first week in office saw the declaration of a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, which gave the Pentagon the authority to deploy military forces, including the National Guard, to assist with border security. Since then, Trump has signed a series of executive orders aimed at curbing illegal immigration, bolstering enforcement measures, and expediting the deportation of individuals who have entered the country unlawfully.
These efforts reflect the Trump administration’s no-compromise stance on immigration enforcement. From expanding detention facilities to exploring unconventional solutions like Guantánamo Bay, the administration is clearly focused on addressing the immigration crisis head-on. While the specifics of this new plan remain unclear, the message is unmistakable: President Trump intends to take decisive action to control the flow of illegal migrants into the United States and ensure that individuals who have entered unlawfully are held accountable.
As discussions about the future of immigration detention continue, the plan to expand facilities at Guantánamo Bay will likely spark further debate. Critics of the administration may raise concerns about the legal and humanitarian implications of reactivating such a notorious detention center, while supporters will likely emphasize the importance of ensuring that the U.S. remains secure from individuals who pose a threat.
In any case, one thing is certain: the conversation around immigration, security, and detention in the U.S. is far from over, and the decision to use Guantánamo Bay as a detention facility for migrants is a bold and controversial step that could have lasting effects on U.S. immigration policy for years to come.
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