On Tuesday, the initial U.S. military flight transporting detained migrants to Guantánamo Bay took off from Texas, according to U.S. officials. This move comes as President Donald Trump’s administration plans to potentially accommodate tens of thousands of migrants at the naval base in Cuba.

Trump stated on January 29 that the U.S. possesses “30,000 beds in Guantánamo Bay to detain the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens posing threats to the American populace.”

He directed the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security to gear up for the influx of 30,000 migrants at Guantánamo Bay. This facility has previously been used to detain military prisoners, some of whom were connected to the 9/11 attacks.

Predominantly known for holding terror suspects, Guantánamo Bay also drew public scrutiny due to allegations of torture and other mistreatment during the U.S. war on terror. As reported by the Defense Department, on January 6, the Biden administration scaled back operations at the facility, transferring 11 Yemeni nationals to Oman.

This transfer reduced the number of detainees at the facility to just 15, a significant drop from the peak of 680 in 2003.

Who oversees Guantánamo Bay?

Per the lease agreement between the United States and Cuba, the U.S. holds jurisdiction while Cuba possesses sovereignty over the 45-square-mile area, which is enclosed by a 17-mile fence.

Location of Guantánamo Bay

Naval Station Guantánamo Bay encompasses 45 square miles of land and water. The base comprises three primary geographical regions: Leeward Point, Windward Point, and Guantánamo Bay.

Leeward Point features an active airfield along with three beaches and a nearby U.S. Naval cemetery.

Windward Point, which has a decommissioned airstrip, contains the majority of the naval station’s facilities, including detention centers.

Arrival of Marines at Naval Station Guantánamo Bay

U.S. Southern Command reported that over 150 Marines and Army personnel arrived at the naval base during the first weekend of February.

These troops included members from the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, as well as elements from U.S. Southern Command and U.S. Army South. They joined existing military personnel already present to support migrant holding operations conducted by the Department of Homeland Security. Currently, there are over 300 military members stationed at the base.

Between January 30 and February 4, numerous tents were set up at Leeward Point.

The inaugural flight to Guantánamo Bay

A C-17 aircraft departed from El Paso, Texas, on Tuesday with a limited number of migrants destined for the high-security facility known for detaining al Qaeda members. The flight landed at 7:20 p.m. ET, as stated by U.S. Transportation Command.

According to Tricia McLaughlin, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the military flight to Guantánamo Bay transported nine to ten migrants. She described these individuals as “highly dangerous criminal aliens” but did not disclose additional information.

A brief history of Naval Station Guantánamo Bay

Utilizing military flights for transporting migrants comes at a high cost. As per Reuters, a recent military deportation flight to Guatemala incurred an estimated expense of at least $4,675 for each migrant.

Trump has increasingly relied on military resources to implement his immigration policy, including sending more troops to the border, using military planes to transport migrants out of the U.S., and opening military facilities to accommodate them.

Thus far, military flights have deported migrants to Guatemala, Peru, Honduras, and India.

SOURCE: YSL News Network reporting and research; Reuters; U.S. Department of Defense; Department of Homeland Security Military.com