Trump Expands Immigration Crackdown With Plan To Hold Criminal Aliens At Guantanamo Bay

The Biden-era immigration crisis has prompted swift action from President Donald Trump, who announced Wednesday that 30,000 high-risk illegal immigrants will be sent to Guantanamo Bay for detention and processing. Trump said his administration will expand an existing migrant facility at the U.S. naval base in Cuba to ensure these individuals cannot re-enter American communities.

Trump stated that the individuals being detained pose serious risks. “Some of them are so bad, we don’t even trust their countries to hold them because we don’t want them coming back,” he said. He emphasized that the facility is “a tough place to get out of” and will serve as a critical tool in securing the country.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the Department of Defense will work alongside Homeland Security to expand the base’s capacity. He explained that Guantanamo will be used for temporary detention, allowing officials to process and deport those housed there as quickly as possible.

The naval base, primarily known for housing terrorism suspects, also contains a migrant center that has existed for decades. Border czar Tom Homan pointed out that previous administrations, including Democratic ones, have used the facility for similar purposes. “This is not new — we are simply making full use of an existing resource,” Homan said.

Trump’s immigration policies have led to over 7,300 deportations since he took office, targeting individuals with criminal backgrounds. He has urged Congress to provide additional funding to remove illegal immigrants at a faster rate and reinforce border security measures.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel denounced the decision, calling it an “act of brutality” and accusing the U.S. of carrying out “illegal detentions” on Cuban soil. The administration dismissed his objections, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring these individuals are kept away from American communities.