The White House confirmed that U.S. migrants are being sent to Guantanamo Bay under a new immigration policy. The move is part of President Donald Trump’s broader crackdown on illegal migration, aiming to prevent the U.S. from becoming a destination for undocumented individuals.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said deportation flights to the detention facility have already begun. “The first flights from the United States to Guantanamo Bay carrying illegal immigrants are underway,” the White House official said.
International repatriation agreements
The decision follows agreements with El Salvador, Venezuela, and Colombia, which have agreed to take back their citizens and other individuals who entered the U.S. illegally. Officials say the deportees will be returned to their respective countries to face legal action.
Guantanamo Bay will serve as a holding facility for individuals who have violated U.S. immigration laws and are accused of committing serious crimes on American soil, according to U.S. officials.
Trump’s immigration crackdown
Since returning to office on Jan. 20, 2025, Trump has implemented mass deportations and pushed to end birthright citizenship. He has also announced plans to hold up to 30,000 immigrants at the U.S. base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Karoline Leavitt announces that “today, the first flights from the United States to Guantanamo Bay with illegal migrants are underway.” pic.twitter.com/2jzt4Y7GeA
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 4, 2025
The facility has historically been used to house migrants intercepted at sea. In 2002, the Bush administration converted it into a detention center for terrorism suspects captured after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
History of Guantanamo Bay
Guantanamo Bay, established in 1903 on a 117-square-kilometer site in eastern Cuba, has long been a focal point in U.S. immigration and national security policies.
In the 1990s, the facility held tens of thousands of Cuban and Haitian migrants intercepted at sea. Many Haitians spent years in detention before being repatriated.
During George W. Bush’s presidency, the facility was used to detain prisoners labeled as “enemy combatants,” who were denied the legal protections granted to detainees on U.S. soil. Nearly 800 people accused of terrorism have passed through the facility since its conversion in 2002. Today, only 15 remain.
Although Guantanamo Bay has largely been associated with terrorism suspects, reports indicate that it has continued to house small groups of migrants in recent years.
Criticism from human rights advocates
Hannah Flamm, acting policy director for the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), called the recent deportations a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy.
This is the first time a detention center outside of the U.S. has been used for the “mass deportation of people (who are) living in the United States,” Flamm said.
Our foreign correspondent Sara Firth reports from Washington as multiple human rights charities have fired back at US President Donald #Trump’s decision to detain some migrants in a center in Guantánamo Bay, stating the facility does not meet standard of living criteria. #WNews pic.twitter.com/AGrOtLj4YP
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) January 30, 2025
The move has drawn criticism from human rights organizations, who argue that detaining migrants at an offshore facility raises concerns about legal rights and due process.
As deportations continue, legal and humanitarian groups are expected to challenge the administration’s actions. The White House has not provided details on how long the facility will be used for mass deportations.