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The administration of President Donald Trump suspended the plan to house deported immigrants from the United States in tents set up at the Guantanamo Naval Base in eastern Cuba, amid concerns about the lack of adequate conditions in the facilities, reported CNN on Monday.
Official sources familiar with the matter stated to the television network that the tents do not meet the detention standards set by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), such as air conditioning and electricity.
The cancellation of the plan comes just a few weeks after U.S. authorities hurriedly approved additional accommodations for the deported immigrants heading to the base.
Also, just four days ago, 177 of the migrants who were detained there were transferred to Venezuela, their country of origin, on flights with a stopover in Honduras.
One of the officials consulted by CNN stated that another 17 migrants were taken to the detention center area of the base, and that the tents are not currently in use.
The report stated that no flights with additional migrants are expected in the next two days.
At the end of January, Trump ordered the expansion of the detention center at the military base located on Cuban territory, with the aim of accommodating up to 30,000 immigrants deported from the U.S., primarily high-risk criminals, such as members of the dangerous Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
This program is part of the strategy of his administration to curb illegal immigration and to detain migrants accused of serious crimes who could not be deported to their countries of origin for various reasons.
The first undocumented migrants housed there arrived in early February, and less than a month later the government decided to remove all of them to eliminate the need for a temporary court order and to respond to legal complaints that questioned the conditions of detention and the rights of those held there.
The Department of Justice defended the operation to release immigrants, stating that the detention in Guantanamo was of a “temporary, not indefinite” nature, noted the news agency AP.
CNN reported that of the 177 Venezuelan migrants sent back to their country last week from the naval base, 126 had criminal charges or convictions, while 51 had no criminal record.
About 1,000 members of the U.S. military are supporting the mission in Guantánamo, a territory in the eastern region of Cuba characterized by high temperatures.
The naval base was previously used to house detainees as part of the U.S.-led war on terrorism. Between August 1994 and February 1996, more than 30,000 Cuban rafters were sent there after attempting to reach the U.S. on rafts and other makeshift boats.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Suspension of the Immigrant Housing Plan in Guantánamo
Why was the plan to house immigrants in tents in Guantanamo suspended?
The plan was suspended because the tents did not meet the detention standards set by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), such as air conditioning and electricity. Furthermore, the cancellation came amid questions regarding the suitability of the facilities.
What was the objective of the plan to house immigrants in Guantánamo?
The goal was to house up to 30,000 deported immigrants from the U.S., mainly high-risk criminals, as part of the Trump administration's strategy to curb illegal immigration and detain migrants accused of serious crimes who could not be deported to their home countries.
What criticisms has the policy of housing immigrants in Guantanamo received?
The measure has been criticized by the Cuban government, which described it as "brutality," and by human rights organizations, which raised concerns about the use of Guantánamo, known for its history of human rights violations, as a detention center for migrants. They criticize the lack of transparency and potential violations of the rights of the detainees.
What happened to the immigrants who were already in Guantánamo?
177 Venezuelan migrants were transferred to Venezuela, their country of origin, on flights with a stop in Honduras. Another 17 immigrants were taken to the detention center area of the base, and the tents are currently not in use.
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