President Trump has announced plans to expand Guantanamo Bay so that child traffickers and pedophiles can be sent to the detention facility with other dangerous terrorists.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said the decision was necessary to protect Americans from “the worst criminal illegal aliens.” He pointed out that some individuals are so dangerous that their home countries cannot be trusted to detain them, making Guantanamo Bay a secure alternative.
Naturalnews.com reports: “This will double our capacity immediately,” Trump declared, adding that the facility would serve as a deterrent to illegal immigration.
The announcement came as Trump signed the Laken Riley Act, a landmark immigration bill requiring the detention of undocumented migrants charged with certain crimes. The president hailed the legislation as a critical tool in combating migrant-related crime, a central theme of his administration.
Second Trump admin defends the use of Gitmo to address illegal immigration and crime
Established in 2002 under former President George W. Bush, the high-security prison was designed to hold foreign terrorism suspects following the 9/11 attacks. But over the years, Guantanamo Bay’s detention facilities have become a flashpoint for controversy.
It has drawn condemnation from human rights groups for its use of indefinite detention and harsh interrogation techniques, which critics equate to torture. The International Refugee Assistance Project highlighted concerns about the lack of educational services for children and restricted communication for detainees in a 2024 report
Despite these criticisms, the second Trump administration has defended the use of Guantanamo Bay as a practical solution to a growing crisis. Border czar Tom Homan, a key figure in the administration’s immigration strategy, confirmed that the existing migrant center would be expanded to accommodate the influx.
“We’re just going to build upon what’s already there,” Homan said, noting that ICE would oversee operations from its Miami-based migrant center.
While the administration has framed the expansion as a straightforward solution, logistical hurdles remain. A U.S. official familiar with the facility’s capacity told CNN that the 30,000-bed figure is outdated, reflecting conditions from the 1990s rather than the present day. To house and care for such a large population, the official said, the U.S. would need to deploy significant military personnel and resources.
The Pentagon, caught off guard by the announcement, has yet to receive detailed guidance from the White House. Defense officials expressed uncertainty about the scope of the mission, including whether it would be short-term or long-term and how much military involvement would be required.
The plan has also drawn sharp criticism from abroad. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel condemned the move as “an act of brutality,” accusing the U.S. of using illegally occupied territory to detain migrants. The Cuban government has long opposed the U.S. presence at Guantanamo Bay, which it views as a violation of its sovereignty.
The expansion of Guantanamo Bay’s migrant facility marks a defining moment in Trump’s immigration agenda. Despite the controversy surrounding the detention center, the administration is sending a clear message: It will stop at nothing to secure the border and enforce immigration laws.