America’s infamous federal prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, became a focal point during the early days of Donald Trump’s presidency. This high-security naval base, often referred to as “Gitmo,” holds some of the nation’s most dangerous enemies, including al-Qaeda members responsible for the 9/11 attacks. Shortly after taking office on January 20, 2017, Trump directed the Pentagon to prepare facilities at Gitmo to detain “criminal illegal aliens,” asserting that this step was necessary to safeguard American communities. The initiative aimed to prevent these individuals from returning to the U.S., as Trump articulated that some were so harmful that they could not be trusted in their home countries.
The rationale behind sending certain migrant criminals to Guantánamo was to confront what Trump described as a surge of crime associated with illegal immigration. Following the declaration of specific migrant gangs as “foreign terrorist organizations” by the State Department, the Trump administration began routing members of these groups, including the notorious MS-13 and Venezuelan Tren de Aragua, through Gitmo. These groups have been linked to major incidents of violence, including the murder of American citizens, raising serious concerns in various urban areas across the United States.
Despite the initial plans to house thousands of dangerous migrants at Guantánamo, challenges quickly emerged. The Department of Defense announced that the migrants would initially occupy vacant detention facilities at the base, but logistical issues soon arose. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth emphasized Gitmo’s role in border security, suggesting that the military presence there was crucial in combatting illegal immigration. However, when the operation to set up tents for the intended capacity of 30,000 beds was initiated, it became apparent that the facilities did not comply with the required standards for holding migrants.
Reports indicated that as of early March 2017, the newly constructed tents at Gitmo remained unused. Military officials disclosed that they had received insufficient guidance regarding what criteria were necessary for the tents to be certified. This lack of clarity halted any further developments in the operation just weeks after it began. In the face of these setbacks, a Republican congressional delegation visited Gitmo, where members reported on the facility’s operational status, indicating readiness for the task of deporting illegal migrants.
As the endeavor to utilize Gitmo for detaining migrant criminals unfolded, some individuals were transferred back to the U.S., complicating the ambitions for Guantánamo. On March 14, reports revealed that 40 illegal migrants previously held at Gitmo were returned to the mainland, with the majority identified as “high-threat” individuals. The future of utilizing Guantánamo for this purpose remained uncertain, as federal officials did not respond to inquiries about potential plans to resume detaining migrants at the facility.
In parallel, the U.S. government sought to collaborate with international partners, notably El Salvador, to manage the deportation and detention of gang members abroad. The establishment of El Salvador’s “Terrorist Confinement Center” offered an alternative destination for Salvadoran and Venezuelan migrants. This strategy suggested a shift in focus away from Guantánamo, indicating both the complexities of immigration enforcement and the ongoing challenges posed by organized crime and terrorism linked to illegal immigration in America.
