Guantanamo Bay Prepared for 30,000 Detainees

In a bold announcement on Wednesday, President Donald Trump revealed plans to instruct the Pentagon to prepare the Guantanamo Bay detention facility to house up to 30,000 “criminal illegal aliens.” The president claimed that this move would help enhance national security and ensure that dangerous individuals do not re-offend.

“Today I’m also signing an executive order to instruct the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to begin preparing the 30,000-person migrant facility at Guantanamo Bay,” Trump stated confidently. He added that most people were unaware of the site’s capacity to accommodate such a large number of detainees.

Reports later clarified that Trump had actually signed a presidential memorandum rather than an official executive order regarding the detainment of these individuals. The president emphasized that the plan is designed to target those he believes pose a significant threat to the American public.

Presidential Remarks on Public Safety

During his announcement, Trump reiterated that Guantanamo’s facilities would provide a secure environment for those deemed harmful. “Some of them are so bad, we don’t even trust their countries to hold them because we don’t want them coming back,” he noted. “We’re going to send them to Guantanamo. It’s a tough place to get out of.”

This initiative aligns with Trump’s overarching strategy to combat what he labeled a “scourge” of migrant crime affecting American communities. He urged Congress to allocate full funding to support border security and the expulsion of record numbers of illegal aliens.

Cuban Response to the Announcement

The announcement drew immediate criticism, particularly from Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who characterized the proposal as an “act of brutality.” In a post on X, he condemned the U.S. government’s plan to detain migrants at the Guantanamo facility, citing allegations of torture and illegal detention practices historically associated with the site.

“In an act of brutality, the new US government announces the imprisonment at the Guantanamo Naval Base, located in illegally occupied territory [Cuba], of thousands of migrants that it forcibly expels,” Diaz-Canel claimed.

Guantanamo Bay as a Detention Solution

In response to Trump’s plans, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem spoke on Fox News, affirming that Guantanamo Bay is already utilized for detaining illegal immigrants, particularly those who are deemed the most dangerous. She emphasized the need for additional resources to ensure the facility can effectively manage the influx of criminal illegal aliens.

Former Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who previously served at Guantanamo Bay, also highlighted its suitability for the predicament. Hegseth stated, “It is better to be held in a safe location like Guantanamo Bay, which was built for this.” He indicated that proper processing procedures would be in place for those to be sent back to their respective countries.

Ongoing Crackdown on Illegal Immigration

Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration has already begun, as evidenced by a social media update from the White House showcasing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. On January 27, 2025, ICE reported a total of 969 arrests of illegal immigrants, marking a significant achievement for the administration in its commitment to border security.

The White House highlighted these arrests as part of a broader strategy to manage and deport individuals with criminal backgrounds or affiliations. Trump, during his 2024 campaign, vowed to address the surge in illegal immigration observed under the Biden administration, focusing specifically on those with substantial criminal records or connections to gangs and terrorist organizations.

Legislative Actions Post-Inauguration

Following his inauguration on January 20, 2025, President Trump immediately set to work on immigration reforms. On the first day of his term, he issued ten executive orders to overhaul U.S. immigration policies significantly. The directives aimed to tighten asylum procedures and empower military personnel to assist in deportation efforts.

Furthermore, the Department of Homeland Security reported significant success in its recent initiatives, stating that law enforcement officials had removed and sent back approximately 7,300 illegal aliens in the preceding week.