U.S. immigration and military authorities have confirmed that migrants from 27 countries are being held at Guantanamo Bay Naval Station in Cuba, defending their right to detain individuals at the military base. The disclosure comes amid a legal battle challenging the Trump administration’s decision to transfer detainees there.
According to court filings, as of Friday, 40 migrants with final deportation orders were in custody at Guantanamo Bay. Among them, 23 have been labeled “high risk” and are held in individual cells, while the others are housed in groups of up to six in specialized migrant facilities.
Civil rights attorneys recently sued the Trump administration in an effort to block the transfer of 10 migrants detained in the U.S. to Guantanamo. Detainees have described conditions as inhumane, with one individual calling it “a living hell.” However, Justice Department attorneys responded Monday, asserting that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has broad legal authority to hold individuals with final removal orders at the base for as long as deportation remains a realistic possibility.
The Trump administration has justified the move, stating that mass deportations aim to deter illegal immigration. Government officials maintain that detainees are treated with dignity, receiving legal access, regular meals, and medical care comparable to other ICE detention facilities. However, documents also confirm that in-person legal visits are not permitted, some detainees have refused food, and individuals who have threatened self-harm are placed in restraints. High-risk detainees undergo strip searches upon arrival and are subject to pat-downs when leaving certain areas.
President Trump previously announced plans to send “the worst criminal migrants” to Guantanamo Bay, but civil rights groups argue that many detainees have no criminal record. The ACLU, which represents the 10 migrants in the lawsuit, has stated it does not have a full list of detainees or their countries of origin. The plaintiffs include seven Venezuelans, one Afghan, one Bangladeshi, and one Pakistani who arrived in the U.S. in 2023 or 2024.
Trump has expressed interest in expanding the Guantanamo facility to hold up to 30,000 migrants. On February 4, his administration began flying individuals there. Initially, nearly 200 Venezuelans were transferred before being deported to their home country, and as of Friday, no Venezuelans remained at the base.
Guantanamo Bay has a long history of holding migrants, separate from the military prison established under President George W. Bush for suspected terrorists after the 9/11 attacks. The current migrant detention facility includes tent housing for 520 individuals, though these are not yet in use. Some migrants are being held in a medium-security facility modeled after U.S. prisons.
As legal challenges continue, the debate over the treatment of migrants at Guantanamo Bay is intensifying, with concerns about human rights, due process, and the broader impact of Trump’s immigration policies.