Plans to detain thousands of migrants at Guantanamo Bay resurface

In the United States, discussions surrounding the use of Guantanamo Bay for detaining undocumented migrants have reignited under the Trump administration. As early as February, the administration began sending some migrants to the military base, prompting internal proposals to expand this operation significantly by transferring as many as 9,000 individuals, as revealed by documents obtained by Politico. This shift was partly driven by the ongoing overcrowding crisis in U.S. immigration facilities, where U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been ramping up arrests at alarming rates. The executive order signed by President Donald Trump directed the Department of Defense to prepare the base for the possible detention of 30,000 migrants, focusing on those deemed as high deportation priorities. Reports indicate that the initial plans faced disruption due to civil unrest in Los Angeles. Despite the administration's denials regarding the existence of a formal transfer plan, the potential for altering Guantanamo's use persists. Civil rights organizations have already raised strong objections, citing concerns about the inhumane conditions that detainees at Guantanamo face, including food shortages and restricted access to legal representation. These issues have led to ongoing lawsuits highlighting the legal rights of detainees, many of whom argue that their due process rights are being violated. As the Trump administration explores ways to ease the burden of its immigration policies, the future of Guantanamo Bay as a facility for migrant detention could have profound implications for human rights and U.S. immigration law.