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The Cuban regime demanded the return of the Guantanamo Naval Base to the United States in a post on the Twitter account of the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR).
The organization stated that that territory is illegally occupied in the Guantanamo province and criticized the fact that immigrants were taken there in handcuffs.
"The White House wants to confine around 30,000 people there. Cuba demands the return of this enclave," the tweet said.
The post has sparked ridicule among Cuban internet users online.
"Go to the base and get the Yankees out of there if you have the guts, instead of posting," wrote the user identified as El Pirata Web.
"With tweets, they won't get them out; go and get them out," demanded El Rincón Libertario.
"And why aren't they going to occupy the base? Cowards!" demanded a Cuban émigré.
"But the MINFAR tweeting? Grab your rifles and go get them, aren’t you brave? Ah, of course, you’re only tough with the opposition," a young woman mocked.
"The prison at the Guantanamo Naval Base is a Meliá 5-star plus next to Villa Marista or any other prison in Cuba," asserted another Twitter user.
When President Donald Trump announced the expansion of the Guantánamo Naval Base's capacity to accommodate up to 30,000 migrants, he explained that the detention center would hold migrants accused of serious crimes.
Upon the announcement of the measure, the Cuban government rejected the decision and warned of potential "serious consequences".
In a statement from the Foreign Ministry, the regime described the event as a "demonstration of the brutality" with which the White House manages the migration crisis on its territory, which is a result of its hostility toward the migrants' countries of origin.
For his part, Díaz-Canel also stated that it is an "act of brutality" to take thousands of people that the United States forcibly expels to Guantánamo, placing them next to "torture chambers and illegal detention facilities."
Although the U.S. government initially announced that the Base would house offenders and criminals, it has now revealed that it does not rule out sending illegal immigrants who have not committed violent crimes.
"We will have facilities that will meet the same standards as other detention facilities in the United States, and I don't believe the president is going to tie his hands regarding what he must do to ensure the security of the United States," stated Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem.
Noem recently visited the Naval Base, where several flights with detained illegal immigrants have already arrived.
"I have just been in Cuba and saw firsthand how foreign criminals were disembarking from a flight in Guantánamo. My message to foreign criminals—murderers, rapists, child predators, and gangsters—is: do not come to this country or we will pursue you, we will find you, and we will lock you up," he emphasized.
The official did not specify how long the detainees could be held there before being deported to their countries, although she clarified that the goal is for them to stay temporarily, not "weeks and months."
As of Saturday the 8th, there were already "more than three dozen people" in the detention center, according to the U.S. Southern Command, which oversees operations at the facility.
The Trump administration has made it clear that it will not distinguish between illegal migrants who have committed serious crimes and those who have simply entered the country irregularly, and that anyone can be deported.
"If you are a person, a foreigner who illegally enters the United States of America, you are, by definition, a criminal, and therefore, you are subject to deportation," said White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt.
Frequently asked questions about Guantanamo Naval Base and the migration situation
Why does the Cuban regime demand the return of the Guantánamo Naval Base?
The Cuban regime considers that the Guantanamo Naval Base is territory illegally occupied by the United States. Since 1959, Cuba has maintained that this enclave belongs to its territory and rejects the perpetual lease signed in 1903. Furthermore, following the United States' decision to expand the capacity of the detention center at the base to accommodate up to 30,000 migrants, Havana has intensified its demand for return.
What is the position of the United States government regarding the Guantanamo Naval Base?
The United States government, under the administration of Donald Trump, has decided to expand the capacity of the Guantanamo Naval Base to accommodate irregular migrants. Trump believes that the base is a strategic facility for managing the migration crisis and housing those migrants deemed highly dangerous. The administration has defended its use as a means to protect national security and alleviate pressure on detention centers within U.S. territory.
What criticisms has the use of Guantánamo as a detention center for migrants received?
The use of the Guantanamo Naval Base as a detention center for migrants has been heavily criticized both by the Cuban regime and by international human rights organizations. The criticisms focus on the base's track record regarding human rights violations and its previous use as a detention center for prisoners in the "war on terror." Additionally, it is denounced that this measure represents a disregard for human rights and International Law.
What measures has the Cuban regime taken in response to the United States' decision regarding Guantanamo?
The Cuban regime has strongly condemned the United States' decision to use the Guantanamo Naval Base to detain migrants, describing it as an "act of brutality." Cuban authorities have warned of possible "serious consequences" that this measure could have for regional stability and have insisted on the return of the territory as part of their historical demands.
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