Concerns Rise as Migrants Detained at Guantanamo Bay are Being Held by Military Guards

CONCERNS RISE AS MIGRANTS DETAINED AT GUANTANAMO BAY ARE BEING HELD BY MILITARY GUARDS

By Buddy Blouin

President Donald Trump moved illegal immigrants to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba – some immigrants were able to be identified as well. The infamous military installation/prison is known for housing some of the world’s worst criminal suspects, many of whom have direct ties to terrorism. However, it has been used occasionally to house immigrants, similar to Trump’s current plans.

30,000 Immigrants Headed to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base

President Trump announced plans to house 30,000 migrants in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, directing the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to prepare the facilities. This plan has caused troops to be deployed as they are anticipating about 30,000 migrants to stay in Guantanamo Bay.

There are about 334 Marines from the 6th Marine Regiment, based in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 216 National Guard members, 160 Navy personnel, 116 service members assigned to Joint Task Force-Southern Guard, and 30 U.S. personnel are among the 900 forces stationed at Guantanamo Bay.

On Wednesday, some migrants sent to Guantanamo Bay were just guarded by service members instead of civilian law enforcement. The U.S. Southern Command raised this issue with the Pentagon, which did not respond by press time.
The reason for putting some migrants in the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp is that President Trump deems these individuals as too dangerous to return, fearing that once they go back to their countries of origin, they will return at a later date.

“We have 30,000 beds in Guantanamo to detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people. Some of them are so bad we don’t even trust the countries to hold them because we don’t want them coming back, so we’re going to send them out to Guantanamo,” said President Trump.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested using the base’s golf course for housing, separate from military detainees living in the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp section of the facility.

The U.S.-Cuban Compromise

The U.S. Navy operates Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB) in southeastern Cuba, though it is unrecognized by the Cuban government.

The post gained notoriety after 9/11 as a detention site for terror suspects, once holding 680 prisoners in 2003.

Today, only 15 remain, including 9/11 masterminds and others never formally charged.

Although Guantanamo Bay is in Cuba, the regulatory authorities are still used and administered by the U.S., leaving the Guantanamo Cuban territory under control by the Government of the U.S. This complex issues with the two countries in the control and agreement of the land.

Guantanamo Bay Prison Usage & Trump’s Other Immigration Policies

The plan to deport illegal immigrants has been a focal point of the early days of Trump, who even signed the Laken Riley Act.

Due to the bill, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is now afforded arrest powers depending on the crime.

Implementing the Guantanamo Bay immigration plan falls in line with the other actions taken under the Trump administration early on.

Military flights have flown immigrants to South America, causing international tension to rise with the likes of Colombia and other nations.

Trump’s plans for Gitmo could include the use of ships from the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy to help with transporting immigrants from base to base.

Over the years, multiple Presidents, including Obama who issued an executive order, claimed to want Guantanamo Bay closed; however, Trump’s EO in 2018 reversed this decision, keeping the base operational.

Placing Immigrants at NSGB

Trump's plans to place immigrants at NSGB aren't unprecedented, as the base housed tens of thousands of Haitian migrants in 1991 and again in 1994 when Cubans were sent there following a massive migration to the U.S. over water.

The orders from Trump direct the DoD and DHS to expand detention for high-priority criminal migrants.

Fifty-three men were captured, and their names were obtained – they are currently in Camp 6. Although the list of 53 migrants was not yet available for identification, two of the migrants were identified by their relatives. The relatives recognized them by releasing migrants' pictures during the government transfer operation.

List of 53 Migrants That Were Taken to Guantanamo Bay:

Three of the names, marked with asterisks, did not appear to be in the locator system, which requires exact spellings.

Acosta Carreno, Yonniel Daniel
Alviares Armas, Jhonatan Alejandro
Azocar-Moreno, Alexandro
Bastidas Paz, Jhoan
Bellorin-Cardiel, Javier Alejandro
Bermudez Gamez, Jose
Briceno-Rojas, Adrian Jose
Cardozo Oliveros, Carlos
Castillo Rivera, Luis Alberto
Ceballos-Jemenez, Kleiber Eduardo
Chirino Torres, Jonathan
Chirinos Rodriguez, Edixon Leonel
Duarte-Marin, Allinzon
Duran-Arape, Mayfreed
Escalona Hernandez, Jefferson *
Esteira Medina, Misael Jose
Gomez Lugo, Tilso Ramon
Guerrero Mejias, Bryan Sleydher
Guevara-Varguillas, Sergio Gabriel
Guilarte, Oswal Yonaiker
Liendo-Liendo, Endry Jose
Lindado Mazo, Ricardo Jose
Marquez Sanchez, Jesus David
Medina Andrade, Jose Gregario
**Mendez Canas, Freddy Javier
Mendez Ramos, Jesus Enrique
Montes Fernandez, Franyer
Mundaray-Salazar, Argelis Jose
Orelanna, Deiby Jose *
Oviedo-Hurtado, Brayan Alberto
Palma-Osorio, Carlos David
Paredes Salazar, Jose Alejandro
Prado Pirona, Jesus
Purroy Roldan, Yoiner Jose
Quintero Quintero, Yohanderson
Rios Salas, Luis Alberto
Rivas-Rivas, Lorwis Jose
Rivero Pinero, Brayan
Rodriguez Diaz, Kevin
Rodriguez Fermin, Rafael
Rojas Pena, Junior
Sanchez Vasquez, Junior
Sandovalascanio, Anthony Yosmar
Santana-Jara, Andres
Simancas Rodriguez, Jose
Sulbaran D’Avila, Erick Johan**
Tiberio-Pacheco, Julio
Uvieda Machado, Alexis
Uzcategui Uzcaegui, Diuvar*
Velazquez-Penaloza, Julio Jose
Villasana Villegas, Douglas Jesus
Wullians Oropeza, Daimer
Yanes-Gonzalez, Ali Jose

Guantanamo Bay in Cuba was known as the detention center where terrorism is evident as it is the place believed to be the deadliest launching of terrorist attacks on American soil.

The Department of Homeland Security declared the two identified migrants to be transferred to Guantanamo, also known as the "worst of the worst island." Trump also believed that they should be deported as they are identified as criminal aliens and gang members.

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