The United States Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, visited the Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay this Tuesday, a location where he had previously served in the early 2000s.
Hegseth explained on his social media that his visit aimed to gather information about the military efforts supporting the mass deportation strategy of the Donald Trump administration.
Your presence at the Base coincided with the arrival of immigrants, as specified by Hegseth himself on X.
Two U.S. defense officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, informed Voz de América that a C-130 military aircraft carrying nine undocumented immigrants landed at the base at noon on Tuesday, arriving from Fort Bliss, Texas.
The mentioned source pointed out that those who arrived are considered "high-threat illegal aliens."
During his visit, Hegseth toured both the detention center and the facilities dedicated to immigrant management.
"These warriors are directly supporting the apprehension and deportation of dangerous illegal foreigners", they posted on social media.
"This is a critical temporary halt in the processing of these dangerous illegal immigrants for their eventual expulsion," he added in another post.
The Pentagon's press deputy, Kingsley Wilson, also reported on the visit through a video that shows the facilities where immigrants classified as "low and medium priority illegal aliens" are housed before their deportation.
Without information about the identity of the detainees
Tuesday's flight marks the second transfer of detainees to Guantanamo from the continental United States in less than a week.
These new detainees join another 17 immigrants who were sent from Fort Bliss to the Guantanamo base on Sunday.
One of the officials mentioned by La Voz de América indicated that they were immediately transferred to the detention center, where they remain under surveillance.
A third official revealed that an additional flight with more migrants is tentatively scheduled for this Wednesday.
Last Thursday, ICE deported 177 detainees who had been at the facility since the beginning of the week.
Of these, more than 120 were considered dangerous criminals, including members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang that the U.S. has classified as a foreign terrorist organization.
The other 50 individuals were confined in the migrant operations center, a space designed to house non-violent immigrants prior to their deportation.
So far, neither the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) nor the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has disclosed any information regarding the identity, nationality, or potential crimes of the detained immigrants.
However, the transfer of these individuals to Guantanamo is part of a strategy that has been severely criticized by human rights groups and immigrant advocacy organizations.
Since the Trump administration implemented its new immigration policy, the Base has become a key point for the temporary detention of immigrants before their final deportation.
Earlier this month, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other organizations filed a lawsuit against the DHS, alleging that detainees at Guantanamo were denied access to lawyers before being deported.
DHS has rejected these accusations, stating that the deportation process meets legal standards.
However, the concern persists among activists and advocates for immigrant rights, who argue that the lack of transparency and the remote location of Guantánamo hinder oversight and access to justice for the detainees.
Expansion of Guantánamo's capacity
The U.S. Southern Command, which oversees operations in Guantánamo, recently informed Congress that the base has the capacity to house up to 2,500 non-violent detainees, but efforts are underway to expand that number to 30,000.
President Trump's executive order has propelled the deployment of hundreds of Marines to the base in order to expedite the expansion of the facilities.
The Trump administration, upon returning to power on January 20, ordered the preparation of 30,000 beds to transfer "the worst illegal criminal immigrants who are a threat to the American people."
Since February 4, the U.S. has been relocating migrants, mostly Venezuelans, to the naval base.
Despite expansion plans, sources from CNN reported recently that the Trump Administration has decided to temporarily halt the construction of tent facilities intended to house the initially projected 30,000 migrants.
According to these sources, the infrastructure does not meet detainment standards, and there have not been enough immigrants to justify the construction of new facilities.
The Guantánamo Naval Base has been a controversial detention center for decades.
In 2002, the government of George W. Bush established a prison at the base for terrorism suspects as part of the "War on Terror" following the attacks of September 11, 2001.
Over the years, nearly 780 prisoners have passed through the facilities. Currently, only 15 detainees remain, of which two have been sentenced.
The use of the base to detain illegal immigrants marks a new chapter in its history.
Frequently asked questions about the Secretary of Defense's visit to Guantanamo and the arrival of immigrants
What was the reason for the visit of the U.S. Secretary of Defense to Guantánamo?
The Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, visited Guantanamo to gather information on military efforts supporting the government's mass deportation strategy under Donald Trump. Additionally, his visit coincided with the arrival of new immigrants at the base, allowing him to directly observe detention and deportation operations. Hegseth also oversaw the facilities and spoke with ICE agents and marines operating at the Immigration Operations Center.
What type of immigrants are being transferred to the Guantanamo Naval Base?
The immigrants relocated to Guantánamo are considered "high-threat illegal aliens," and many have serious criminal records. Among them are members of the Tren de Aragua gang, who are classified as dangerous by U.S. authorities. This measure is part of a strategy to more effectively manage the migration crisis and to apprehend those accused of serious crimes.
What is the current and future capacity of Guantanamo Base to accommodate immigrants?
Currently, Guantanamo Bay can accommodate up to 2,500 non-violent detainees, but efforts are underway to expand that capacity to 30,000. This increase is part of an executive order from President Trump, which has prompted the deployment of Marines and the construction of new facilities to house more immigrants, particularly those who pose a significant threat to U.S. security.
What criticisms has the use of Guantánamo as a detention center for immigrants generated?
The use of Guantánamo to detain immigrants has been severely criticized by human rights groups and immigrant advocacy organizations. Key concerns include the lack of transparency, limited access to lawyers, and the remote location of the base, which complicates oversight and access to justice for the detainees. Additionally, the Cuban government has rejected this decision, labeling it as "brutality."
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