US evaluates transferring immigrants to Guantánamo amid difficulties in deporting them

The Donald Trump Administration is considering using the Guantánamo base to detain migrants in irregular situations in the United States. The Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, confirmed that the Government is analyzing this option for foreigners with deportation orders.

In an interview with Fox News, Noem stated that they are evaluating measures to expel migrants from countries that refuse to receive their citizens. "We are evaluating it and debating it at this moment.

It is a decision of the president, but it is a resource we can use," Noem stated. The Guantánamo naval base, located in Cuba, has been used since 2002 to detain terrorism suspects after the September 11 attacks.

Since then, it has been a center of controversy due to allegations of human rights violations and inadequate conditions for prisoners. According to reports, the base has facilities capable of detaining migrants, although the detention conditions have been criticized.

The Government is seeking options in reply to the increase in undocumented immigrants and the difficulties in deporting citizens from Venezuela and Cuba. The United States doesn't have repatriation agreements with these countries, which prevents the deportation of migrants detained at the southern border.

Authorities have reinforced detentions at the border with Mexico and have tightened policies to reduce the flow of migrants. In 2024, Trump eliminated the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) of 600,000 Venezuelans, increasing the number of people at risk of deportation.

The New York Times published a report revealing precarious conditions in Guantánamo, with allegations of abuse and lack of legal rights. According to the media, detained migrants have reported the presence of rats, deficiencies in food, and restrictions on access to lawyers.

Human rights organizations warn that sending migrants to Guantánamo would undermine guarantees and could create legal problems. "This measure turns migrants into prisoners without basic rights. It is a violation of international law," defenders state.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has indicated that it could file lawsuits against this possible immigration policy. The Department of Homeland Security assures that the measure seeks to alleviate the migration crisis and avoid overcrowding in detention centers.

Trump has promised to toughen immigration policies and accelerate deportations if reelected in the presidential elections. The proposal to use Guantánamo has caused divided reactions in Congress, with Democratic legislators calling it inhumane and illegal.

Republicans support the measure as a temporary solution to the migration crisis, amid the record increase in crossings at the southern border. The debate over the future of migrants in the U.S. continues as the Trump Administration evaluates options to strengthen its immigration policy.