AdminBy Favour Chinecherem Ibekwe
United States President, Donald Trump, has announced plans to expand the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to house up to 30,000 migrants.
The facility, which already includes a detention centre for foreign terrorism suspects, will now be converted to use in detaining those Trump described as “the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people.”
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe announcement, made during a White House ceremony on Wednesday, marks a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s efforts to crack down on illegal immigration.
The move has reignited debates about the immigration policy and human rights.
Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Defence and the Department of Homeland Security to prepare the expanded facility, which will be operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“Some of them are so bad we don’t even trust the countries to hold them because we don’t want them coming back,” Trump said. “So we’re going to send them out to Guantanamo. This will double our capacity immediately. And, tough.”
READ ALSO: Trump Fires Prosecutors Linked To 2020 Election Misconduct Case
Guantanamo Bay has long been a symbol of contentious U.S. policies. The detention centre, established in 2002 under President George W. Bush, was initially used to hold foreign terrorism suspects in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. Over the years, the facility has faced widespread criticism for its use of indefinite detention, allegations of torture, and the legal limbo in which detainees were held.
The base also includes a separate migrant facility, which has been used intermittently for decades to house migrants intercepted at sea, including Haitians and Cubans. However, the proposed expansion to accommodate 30,000 migrants would represent a dramatic increase in the Pentagon’s role in immigration enforcement.
The administration has not yet disclosed the cost of the expansion, but Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem indicated that discussions with Congress were underway to secure funding.
READ ALSO: Trump Signs Executive Order To Remove Transgender Policies In Military
The announcement comes as Trump continues to make immigration a central issue of his presidency. During his 2024 campaign, he vowed to significantly curtail illegal immigration and strengthen border security. The Guantanamo bay expansion is seen as a fulfilment of those promises, but it has also drawn sharp criticism from Democrats and immigration advocates.
Critics argue that the use of Guantanamo Bay for migrant detention risks further tarnishing the facility’s already controversial legacy. Human rights advocates have condemned the plan, warning that it could lead to overcrowding, inadequate conditions, and violations of due process.
“Guantanamo Bay should be closed, not expanded,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren. “This is not who we are as a nation.”
Netizens have also reacted by calling for his impeachment, claiming that Trump is leading the United States into fascism, and the “migrant facility” is another word for concentration camps.
Despite the backlash, Trump remains steadfast in his approach. “We’re going to keep our country safe,” he said during the signing ceremony. “And if that means sending the worst criminals to Guantanamo, then that’s what we’ll do.”
As the administration moves forward with its plans, the expanded facility at Guantanamo Bay is poised to become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over immigration, national security, and human rights.
Ibekwe is an intern at Prime Business Africa.
