In a move to tighten immigration controls, US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to establish a new detention facility at Guantánamo Bay. This facility will have the capacity to hold up to 30,000 immigrants facing deportation.

Trump's Crackdown on Illegal Immigrants

Trump has ramped up his crackdown on illegal immigration with this new order. He intends to detain the "worst criminal illegal aliens" who are seen as a threat to the US. "Some of them are so bad, we don’t even trust the countries [of origin] to hold them because we don’t want them coming back,” Trump stated. "So we’re going to send them out to Guantánamo. This will double our capacity immediately," he added.

Existing Detention Facilities at Guantánamo Bay

It’s important to note that Guantánamo Bay already hosts detainees. The US naval base has facilities to house immigrants intercepted at sea. Furthermore, a high-security prison exists for foreign terrorism suspects. However, the Pentagon has been tight-lipped about the current detention facilities. They have rarely been mentioned in official records.

Laken Riley Act and New Executive Order

In addition, Trump signed the Laken Riley Act, which mandates the detention of undocumented immigrants convicted of theft-related crimes. This legislation was named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student killed by undocumented immigrants in 2023. Later, Trump’s executive order expanded the Migrant Operations Center at Guantánamo Bay. "This memorandum is issued in order to halt the border invasion, dismantle criminal cartels, and restore national sovereignty," he said.

Trump's Broader Immigration Actions

Since his presidency began, Trump has implemented several sweeping measures aimed at controlling immigration. These include declaring a national emergency on the southern border, halting the refugee resettlement program, and revoking temporary protected status for certain groups. Meanwhile, the most recent Pentagon update shows that only 15 prisoners remain at Guantánamo, the lowest number in its 22-year history.

International Backlash to Trump's Plan

As expected, the international community has voiced strong opposition to Trump’s plan. Cuba’s foreign minister condemned it as "contempt towards the human condition and international law." President Miguel Díaz-Canel called it "an act of brutality." Additionally, Amnesty International criticized the decision, urging Trump to focus on closing Guantánamo rather than repurposing it for immigration detention.

Decisión gob EEUU de encarcelar en Base Naval en Guantánamo a migrantes, en enclave donde creó centros de tortura y detención indefinida, muestra desprecio hacia condición humana y Derecho Internacional

Es en territorio de #Cuba ilegalmente ocupado fuera jurisdicción cortes EEUU pic.twitter.com/riqxW5lSni

— Bruno Rodríguez P (@BrunoRguezP) January 29, 2025