The U.S. Navy base at Guantánamo Bay has been prepared to hold migrants, with the capacity to house up to 30,000 individuals. However, as of now, only about 400 migrants have been held there at a cost of more than $40 million. The operation has been staffed with 1,000 government workers, with a ratio of five staff members for each migrant in the group. Senior Pentagon officials have testified about the operation, stating that Guantánamo is currently not ready to hold 30,000 migrants and that additional service members would need to be mobilized for that purpose.
The Pentagon has stated that Guantánamo is being utilized due to the lack of capacity at ICE facilities to house high-threat illegal aliens. As of Friday, ICE was housing 45 migrants at the base, with 36 of them in the prison facility. All migrants sent to Guantánamo are on the verge of heading to their ultimate destination, with some already repatriated to countries such as Venezuela, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. The administration has sent migrants directly to these countries, with fewer than half of the migrants sent to Guantánamo since February being returned to the United States.
The proposed use of tents at the base to house migrants has not been implemented, with security concerns being a major factor in this decision. Troops set up 195 tents following President Trump’s executive order, but they have never been used to house migrants. The Defense Department spent over $40 million on the operation up until March 12, with concerns about the safety of housing high-threat individuals in temporary tents. Senator Jack Reed has criticized the erection of the tents, calling it more of a political decision than a practical necessity.
Overall, the Guantánamo Bay base has currently housed a small number of migrants, with plans to potentially hold up to 30,000 individuals. The operation has been costly, with significant staffing and security concerns. While some migrants have already been repatriated to their home countries, the use of tents at the base has been deemed unsuitable for housing high-threat individuals. The administration continues to explore options for managing the influx of migrants and ensuring their safe return to their ultimate destinations.
