Asger Risom
A controversial new plan could see thousands of undocumented migrants held at the Guantanamo Bay facility, marking a sharp shift in U.S. immigration enforcement.
The Trump administration is preparing to transfer up to 9,000 undocumented migrants to the Guantanamo Bay detention center, with relocations expected to begin as early as this week.
Internal documents obtained by Politico and cited by Digi24 confirm the move, which has already sparked diplomatic concern and legal opposition.
A Strategic and Symbolic Relocation
The proposed transfer would mark a significant expansion from the few hundred migrants temporarily held at the base earlier this year. Officials say the goal is to relieve pressure on overcrowded U.S. detention centers. But the use of Guantanamo, long associated with terrorism suspects, is also being interpreted as a symbolic deterrent to would-be migrants.
According to the documents, detainees would be held at the site temporarily before being deported. However, the Department of Homeland Security may not notify countries in advance, raising concerns among U.S. allies and internal State Department officials.
Criticism from Allies and Legal Advocates
At least 800 Europeans are among those approved for transfer, prompting concern from U.S. diplomats who warn that such action could strain cooperation with partner countries. “The message is to shock and anger people. But we’re allies,” one official told Politico.
Meanwhile, a class-action lawsuit alleges that migrants already held at Guantanamo are facing “punitive” conditions, including limited hygiene, inadequate food, and exposure to rodents. The suit accuses the government of using the base to pressure detainees into accepting deportation.
High Cost, Unclear Endgame
Operational questions also loom. A U.S. Senate estimate put the cost of housing a single migrant at Guantanamo at roughly $100,000 per day. Pentagon officials are reportedly concerned about medical access, limited personnel, and logistical strain.
While the administration insists the measure is temporary, the lack of clear timelines—and growing legal pressure—suggest this may become a defining flashpoint in U.S. immigration policy.