By Charles Switzer
12:53pm PST, Jan 31, 2025
Trump Orders Expansion of Guantanamo Bay for Migrant Detention
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday, January 29, that he instructed the Pentagon to prepare Guantanamo Bay to house 30,000 "criminal illegal aliens," marking one of the most controversial moves in his new administration's immigration crackdown.Speaking at a press briefing, Trump said, "Today I'm also signing an executive order to instruct the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to begin preparing the 30,000-person migrant facility at Guantanamo Bay. Most people don't even know about it."
However, it was later revealed the president had signed a presidential memorandum, not an executive order, on the matter. Despite the distinction, the administration insists that the plan is already in motion. "Some of them are so bad, we don't even trust their countries to hold them because we don't want them coming back," Trump stated. "We're going to send them to Guantanamo. It's a tough place to get out of."
The decision has sparked an immediate backlash. Here are four key takeaways from the "dictator-like" move.
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Cuban Government Condemns Guantanamo Expansion as 'Brutality'
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel was quick to respond, condemning Trump's plan as an "act of brutality" and slamming the United States for using territory that Cuba has long considered illegally occupied.In a translated post on X, Díaz-Canel stated, "In an act of brutality, the new U.S. government announces the imprisonment at the Guantanamo Naval Base, located in illegally occupied territory, of thousands of migrants that it forcibly expels."
The Cuban leader further accused the U.S. of setting up a prison system that echoes the widely criticized detention policies used at Guantanamo Bay for terrorism suspects largely during former President George W. Bush's admin. However, the Trump administration defended the decision, insisting that Guantanamo Bay provides a secure and effective solution to prevent the return of dangerous criminals to the U.S.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem Defends Detention Expansion
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appeared on The Will Cain Show to confirm that Guantanamo Bay is already being used to house some of the most dangerous illegal immigrants. She emphasized that expanding the facility's capacity is crucial for national security, stating, "We will make sure resources are placed there to ensure there is enough space to get criminal illegal aliens out of the U.S."Joining Noem on the program was Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who was stationed at Guantanamo from 2004 to 2005. Hegseth argued that Gitmo is the ideal location for detaining illegal immigrants, stating, "This is not the detention facilities where I served for Al Qaeda; this is using specific facilities for migrants and illegals on other parts of the naval station."
Hegseth also emphasized that Guantanamo Bay has been used for this purpose under past administrations, including Bill Clinton's presidency.
Trump Touts ICE Arrests as Crackdown Intensifies
The Trump administration has been aggressively enforcing its immigration policies since returning to office, with federal agents conducting mass deportation raids in major cities across the U.S. On Tuesday, January 28, the White House shared a social media thread on X highlighting the latest arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stating, "969 TOTAL ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION ARRESTS by ICE were recorded yesterday, January 27, 2025. HERE ARE SOME OF THE WORST."Among those arrested were individuals convicted of violent crimes, including child rape, gang-related offenses and suspected ties to terrorist organizations. Trump has long promised a no-tolerance approach to illegal immigration.
Trump's Sweeping Immigration Overhaul Takes Shape
Since his inauguration on January 20, President Trump has wasted no time in implementing his hardline immigration policies. His first ten executive orders included sealing the U.S. asylum system to those without proper documentation, tasking the military with deporting immigration violators and expanding the role of ICE in removing migrants.The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that since Trump took office, federal law enforcement officials have deported or removed over 7,300 illegal immigrants. "The United States is no longer a sanctuary for lawbreakers," a White House official stated.