The ultra-conservative American president has revealed his intention to sign an executive order directing the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security to prepare detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay for undocumented immigrants. According to information reported by Politico, Donald Trump stated that the “most dangerous criminal illegal aliens” would be transferred to Guantanamo.
The executive order, which Trump plans to sign on Wednesday, proposes the construction of 30,000 detention spaces at the U.S. naval base in Cuba.
“We don’t trust some of these countries to hold them,” Trump said, illustrating his administration’s hardline approach to immigration. “So, we’re going to send them to Guantanamo,” he added, describing the facility as “a place that’s practically impossible to escape from,” according to Politico.
These remarks were made just before the signing of the Laken Riley Act, a restrictive immigration law that garnered support from some Democrats and marks the first law signed during Trump’s second term.
Following the signing, Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, confirmed to the media that preparations at Guantanamo Bay were already underway. “We’re already at work,” said Noem. “Construction is in progress.” She clarified that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would be responsible for managing the center and that detainees would be transported there directly.
The use of Guantanamo Bay for detaining migrants is not unprecedented.
The U.S. housed Haitian and Cuban refugees there in the 1990s under emergency humanitarian policies. However, previous administrations framed these measures as temporary solutions rather than permanent deterrents. Trump’s approach, by contrast, is clearly positioned as a harsh crackdown on undocumented immigration, according to Politico.
Cuban authorities have strongly condemned the initiative.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel firmly condemned the plan, calling it “an unprecedented act of brutality,” while Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla criticized the U.S. for its “blatant disregard for human rights and international law.”
The Pentagon has yet to issue an official confirmation regarding the directives related to the executive order.
A source within the administration, speaking anonymously to Politico, indicated that no directive had been issued by the Secretary of Defense to begin work at the base. The White House also remains silent on the specific details and timeline of the executive order, according to the initial Politico report.
The Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, which spans 45 square miles in southeastern Cuba, has been under U.S. jurisdiction since 1903. In addition to serving as a military prison—where the detainee population had dwindled to 15 under the Biden administration—the base plays a key role in maritime security, humanitarian efforts, and joint military operations.
As the administration moves forward with this controversial project, many questions remain regarding the legal, logistical, and humanitarian implications of transforming Guantanamo Bay into a large-scale detention center for undocumented migrants. Noem clarified that Congress would have the final say on the budget allocation needed for the expansion of the center.
Amid probable legal challenges and growing international criticism, Trump’s executive order is set to spark a major debate on U.S. immigration policy and the respect for human rights.