Trump to send thousands to Guantanamo, because apparently detention centers weren’t nightmarish enough

The Trump administration is reportedly planning to greatly increase the use of Guantanamo Bay as a detention center for undocumented migrants, possibly moving thousands of people there in the next few days. Documents obtained by Politico indicate that at least 9,000 migrants are being reviewed for transfer, a major increase from the roughly 500 migrants held there since February.

The plan, which could start as soon as this week, is meant to reduce overcrowding in detention facilities inside the US and act as a way to discourage illegal immigration. The administration’s stated reason for the transfer is to create more space in US detention centers.

However, using Guantanamo Bay, a facility known for holding terrorism suspects, is likely to send a strong message meant to prevent future migration. This reasoning is very different from earlier statements that suggested the facility would only be used as a short-term holding place before deportation.

It looks like Guantanamo Bay is for immigrants, not terrorists

The plan has caused concern within the State Department, especially about how it might affect relationships with European allies. The documents show that around 800 Europeans, including people from Austria, Romania, and Russia, are being considered for transfer. State Department officials say many European countries already work with the US to accept deportees and argue that sending these individuals to Guantanamo is unnecessary and could harm diplomatic relations.

These officials are reportedly trying to convince the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to rethink this part of the plan. This proposed expansion of migrant detention at Guantanamo will likely make existing legal challenges worse. A federal class-action lawsuit claims that current immigrant detainees at Guantanamo are being subjected to “punitive” conditions, including not enough food, rarely getting clean clothes, and infestations.

The ACLU lawyers involved say there is no good reason to hold immigrant detainees at Guantanamo instead of facilities in the US, suggesting the administration is using the threat of Guantanamo to force compliance and scare people from migrating. This lawsuit is currently before a judge appointed by President Trump. This doesn’t feel far-fetched when Trump runs ICE like a business.

The financial impact of this plan is significant. Senator Gary Peters estimated the daily cost per detainee at Guantanamo to be $100,000. Applying this estimate to the proposed 9,000 detainees suggests a daily cost of $900 million, though the real cost could be different.

Additionally, the plan presents major logistical challenges. The 45-square-mile naval base, which held up to 780 detainees at the height of the war on terror, does not have the infrastructure to properly handle such a large increase in population. There are concerns about providing enough medical care, dealing with tropical weather conditions, and keeping enough staff.