US President Donald Trump has signed an order to establish an immigration detention facility at Guantanamo Bay that can preserve 30,000 migrants. The circulate is part of a sweeping crackdown on immigration in Cuba that President Miguel Diaz-Canel has criticized as “evil”. Trump has signed a government order to build a huge immigration prison at the United States Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. it is part of Trump’s broader immigration crackdown that has covered mass arrests and mass deportations. “Act of brutality.”
Details of the Order:
- Trump announced the order during a speech on immigration enforcement.
- He stated that the facility would hold “the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people.”
- Trump justified the move by claiming that some migrants are too dangerous to be sent back to their home countries.
- The decision aligns with the administration’s national emergency declaration at the southern border.
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem previously hinted at the plan in an interview with Fox News.
Historical Context of Guantánamo Bay:
- The US naval base in Guantánamo Bay has been historically used to detain foreign terrorism suspects since the post-9/11 era.
- A lesser-known migrant detention centre has existed at the base, mainly used for individuals intercepted at sea.
- Trump’s order would significantly expand this facility’s capacity and function.
- Former President Obama attempted to shut down the detention centre in 2016.
Reaction from Cuba:
- Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel strongly criticized the decision.
- He accused the US of “illegally occupying” Cuban territory and expanding a “prison known for torture and illegal detentions.”
- Diaz-Canel expressed concerns about placing migrants near notorious detention facilities.
- Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel condemned the decision, calling it an “act of brutality
Other Immigration Policies Under Trump:
- Trump has vowed the largest deportation operation in US history.
- The administration has increased arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes in cities like New York, Chicago, and Denver.
- The Biden-era Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 600,000 Venezuelans was canceled.
- TPS, initially introduced to protect migrants from unstable countries, became a target for Republican criticism.
Implications of the Decision:
- The move could double US capacity for migrant detentions.
- It is expected to spark significant legal and human rights debates.
- The US-Cuba diplomatic tensions may worsen as Cuba continues to reject the US’s leasing rights over Guantánamo Bay.
- The policy shift is expected to impact Venezuelan migrants the most, as they constitute a large portion of asylum seekers.
Trump’s executive order to establish a large-scale migrant detention center at Guantánamo Bay is a major development in US immigration policy. The move has drawn significant criticism, particularly from the Cuban government, and is expected to further intensify the debate over the US’s immigration enforcement measures. With mass deportations and enhanced border security measures underway, the administration is setting the stage for one of the most aggressive immigration crackdowns in US history
