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The United States Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, defended this Sunday the immigration policy of the Trump administration, emphasizing the need for strict measures to ensure national security.
These statements come after the announcement by President Donald Trump regarding the expansion of the Guantanamo naval base in Cuba, to accommodate up to 30,000 undocumented immigrants deemed dangerous.
A contingent of U.S. Marines has recently arrived in Guantánamo to assist in the expansion of the Migration Operations Center.
According to a statement from the White House, this action is part of President Trump's mission to protect Americans and secure the nation.
"The president has said that the worst of the worst will be found there, that we are going to pursue those bad actors. Last week I was in New York City. We were going to go after people who had arrest warrants for murders and rapes, assaults, weapons purchases, and drug trafficking", said Noem in an interview on the "Meet the Press" program from NBC.
However, the official avoided answering directly whether the facilities will be used solely for dangerous individuals and not for women and children
"We will use the facilities that we have,” he stated. "We have other detention centers in the country and we will use what is appropriate for each individual."
Additionally, he outlined the strategy proposed by the U.S. President, "if we look at what we're doing today, we are targeting the worst of the worst, we have been very clear about that. The president's priority is to pursue foreign criminals who are making our streets more dangerous."
In the interview, Noem added about the current administration's plan. "After that, we have final deportation orders for many people in this country; they are the next priority, and we will continue working with those who are breaking the law, who pose a threat to these communities, and we will use the detention centers we have established to facilitate this in an orderly manner," she pointed out.
According to President Trump, the prison at the Guantanamo naval base will be used to detain "the worst illegal foreign criminals who threaten the American people."
The Democratic senator Mark Kelly described the decision to expand the detention of migrants in Guantanamo as "alarming."
The Department of Defense has stated that the deployment of Marines and the expansion of facilities in Guantanamo are part of a "security and deterrence" strategy, dismissing the notion that it is an offensive operation or a mass detention of migrants.
Noem assured that the administration will act within legal boundaries and that there is no intention to detain individuals indefinitely.
Frequently asked questions about U.S. immigration policy and the expansion of Guantánamo
Why is the U.S. expanding the Guantanamo base to accommodate migrants?
The Trump administration is expanding the Guantanamo base to use it as a detention center for up to 30,000 migrants deemed dangerous. This move aims to relieve pressure on detention centers within the United States and to focus resources on the detention of immigrants accused of crimes.
Who will be sent to Guantanamo under this new immigration policy?
According to statements from the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, migrants deemed "the worst illegal foreign criminals" will be sent to Guantánamo. This includes individuals with arrest warrants for serious offenses such as murder, rape, drug trafficking, and other crimes.
How has the Cuban government responded to the expansion of Guantánamo?
The Cuban government has condemned the decision, labeling it as "brutality." According to the statement from the Cuban regime, the Guantánamo base is an "illegally occupied territory of Cuba", and its use as a mass detention center demonstrates a disregard for international law and human rights.
What measures is the Trump administration taking to strengthen border security?
The Trump administration is implementing strict measures such as reactivating Title 42, eliminating the CBP One application, and expanding the Guantanamo base. These actions aim to reinforce control over illegal immigration and prioritize the deportation of immigrants with criminal backgrounds.
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