The first flight bringing migrants to Guantanamo Bay came on Tuesday evening. This was part of the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce illegal immigration.
A C-17 plane left El Paso, Texas, carrying a few migrants to a high-security prison where al Qaeda prisoners are kept, as reported by a U.S. official.
The removal flight arrived at 7:20 p.m. ET, as reported by U.S. Transportation Command.
The Department of Homeland Security suspects that the 10 people on the flight are members of the Venezuelan gang called Tren de Aragua.
The migrants will not be housed with current prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement will be in charge of their security.
On January 29, President Donald Trump signed an order telling the leaders of the Defense and Homeland Security departments to fully use the Migrant Operations Center at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay for housing migrants living in the U.S. without legal status.
“Trump said in the Oval Office on Tuesday that there is plenty of room for many people.” “We’re going to use it.”
“The migrants can be tough, but we also have some troublemakers.” “I want to let them go.” We will follow our country’s rules, and we are checking if this is possible.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Fox News that flights bringing migrants to Guantanamo Bay began on Tuesday morning. She said that Trump, Pete Hegseth, and Kristi Noem are following through on their promise to use Guantanamo for people who have violated U.S. immigration laws and committed serious crimes against American citizens.
Trump mentioned that the U.S. will get ready to accommodate 30,000 migrants who are waiting to go back to their home countries. On Monday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the high-security prison at Guantanamo Bay could be used for the most dangerous criminals who are being deported.
“Where will you send Tren de Aragua before returning them?” Hegseth asked a question. “What if we use a maximum-security prison at Guantanamo Bay, since we have room there?”
He described the base as “the perfect place to support migrants leaving our country,” even those who are serious offenders.
“President @realdonaldtrump has been very clear: Guantanamo Bay will hold the worst of the worst. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Tuesday that it starts today. It is not clear what charges the refugees on the plane are facing.
As of Monday, around 300 service members were helping with immigrant holding activities at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, according to U.S. Southern Command. U.S. officials told ABC News that as many as 200 more Marines are likely to arrive in waves.
The Defense Department announced that troops are at Guantanamo Bay to help set up the Migrant Operations Center, which will temporarily accommodate up to 30,000 migrants, away from the maximum-security jail.
“On January 31, Hegseth said that the military is ready to help remove illegal criminals from our country and send them back to their home countries or another place for now.” “If they can’t go somewhere right away, they can go to Guantanamo Bay.”
Karen Greenberg, who leads the Center on National Security at Fordham University School of Law, told ABC News’ Phil Lipof on January 29 that a major difficulty with keeping migrants at Guantanamo Bay is the high number mentioned by Trump.
“I’m not sure they can do that,” said Greenberg, who mentioned that “back in the ’90s, I think they could hold a maximum of 21,000 people.”
She noted that the base has often housed refugees and migrants, including during the Biden era, but in fewer numbers.
Greenberg pointed out that the stories from people who have been at Guantanamo Bay are “not good.”
“In September, the International Refugee Assistance Project released a report about the current conditions for migrants at Guantanamo. It mentioned unsanitary living conditions, mistreatment, and unclear legal status,” she said.
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