Only ten illegal immigrants, members of the Tren de Aragua gang, arrived at the Guantánamo Naval Base this Tuesday, U.S. authorities confirmed this Wednesday.
At the moment, the nationality of those selected is unknown, but all of them had serious criminal records.
Various publications from U.S. authorities have emphasized that the worst criminals will be sent to Guantánamo.
“The worst of the worst criminals will be held in the military facility. Donald Trump has been very clear: the worst of the worst will be locked up in Guantanamo Bay," the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) pointed out on X.
“The flights to Guantánamo Bay have begun. The worst of the worst has no place in our homeland”, wrote CBP on X.
Kristi Noem, the current Secretary of Homeland Security, has also stepped up.
“The arrests in recent days include convicted murderers, rapists, child abusers, drug traffickers, MS-13 gang members, and cartel members. Under President Trump's administration, the United States is no longer a safe haven for violent criminals”, he stated on the aforementioned social network.
Images published by the Ministry of Defense show that the littoral combat ship USS St. Louis (LCS 19) is anchored in the waters of the Naval Base, where its crew is collaborating on the expansion of the Migrant Operations Center as part of Operation Southern Guard, according to a statement.
"In compliance with an order from the President of the United States, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Defense (DOD) have deployed military personnel to support DHS-led deportation operations at the naval station. To implement this directive, U.S. Southern Command has established a Joint Task Force for Migration Operations at the base, the document adds."
In the images, numerous military personnel are seen raising expedition tents and other logistical infrastructures to expand the Operations Center for Migrants.
The first phase of this expansion will accommodate up to 2,000 migrants, with future phases planned to further increase its capacity.
First images of the ten migrants deported to the Naval Base
The U.S. government released the first images of immigrants transferred to the Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba on Tuesday, as part of the deportation policy of President Donald Trump.
The photographs, released by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, showed a group of individuals dressed in gray uniforms with their hands cuffed, being escorted by security agents.
Less than a week ago, Trump announced the construction of a detention center at Guantánamo Naval Base, with the capacity to hold up to 30,000 migrants.
This measure is part of his strategy to strengthen the control of illegal immigration and to stop those migrants accused of serious crimes who cannot be deported to their home countries.
The plan has generated criticism and concerns on an international level. The Cuban government strongly rejected the decision, labeling it as "brutality" and warning of potential "serious consequences" for regional stability.
Additionally, human rights organizations have expressed concerns about the use of Guantánamo, known for its history of human rights violations, as a detention center for migrants.
Despite the criticism, the Trump administration has defended the measure as a solution to ease the pressure on detention centers within the United States and to manage the migration crisis more effectively.
The Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, stated that the Department of Defense is coordinating efforts to designate areas within the base for this purpose.
This development is part of a series of actions by the Trump administration aimed at intensifying deportations and supporting immigration policies, including the expansion of accelerated deportations and the suspension of visas to countries that do not cooperate in accepting their deported citizens.
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