Former President Donald Trump proposed a contentious plan to use the Guantánamo Bay detention facility for incarcerating up to 30,000 criminal illegal immigrants. Established post-9/11 for terrorism suspects, the facility has faced international criticism for human rights abuses. Despite calls for its closure, Trump intended to expand its use as part of his strict immigration policy. This approach included the arrest and deportation of undocumented immigrants, even for minor offenses like theft.
Trump's administration directed the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to prepare the facility for this purpose, sparking backlash from human rights organizations and foreign leaders, including Cuba's President Miguel Díaz-Canel. Critics labeled the move as brutal and inhumane, associating it with past abuses at the prison.
The plan aligned with Trump's campaign promises to curb illegal immigration and enforce mass deportations. However, the proposal highlighted ongoing debates over the ethics and legality of using such a notorious site for migrant detention, reflecting broader tensions in U.S. migration policy.
