
The Trump administration has announced that Guantanamo Bay will be used to detain up to 30,000 illegal immigrants as part of an expanded effort to remove criminals from the United States. The move, revealed Wednesday, directs the Department of Defense and Homeland Security to increase the site’s capacity.
President Donald Trump explained that those detained at the naval base will be among the most dangerous criminals. “Most people don’t even know that we have 30,000 beds in Guantanamo to detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people,” he said during the announcement.
🚨BREAKING: Trump says he will be signing an Executive Order to send the worst of the United States illegals to Guantanamo Bay in a 30,000 bed facility. pic.twitter.com/EQVJ7LZCv4
— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) January 29, 2025
The military base in Cuba has a history of holding terrorism suspects, but it has also housed detained migrants for years. Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, clarified that this is not a new facility but an expansion of an existing operation. “There’s already a migrant center there, and we’re simply going to build on it,” he stated.
https://x.com/bennyjohnson/status/1884727180732584165
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the facility will not be a long-term detention site but a processing center for deportations. The administration has already deported thousands of illegal immigrants since Trump took office, with plans to accelerate removals further.
🚨Trump signing Executive Order to use Guantanamo Bay to hold over 30,000 illegal aliens
Boom🔥 pic.twitter.com/fJNxJuC9jd
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) January 29, 2025
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reaffirmed the administration’s intent to crack down on illegal immigration. “We are committed to removing dangerous individuals and ensuring they never return,” she said while discussing the expansion.
Trump: We’re gonna send the illegals to Guantanamo Bay.
Me: pic.twitter.com/r1SASm0vve
— LCpl of America First (@LCplofMarines75) January 29, 2025
Cuban officials have condemned the decision, with President Miguel Díaz-Canel claiming that the U.S. is violating Cuban sovereignty. Despite the criticism, Trump’s administration has defended the move as a necessary step in addressing illegal immigration.