The United States has deported 18 migrants who were recently detained at its naval base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, leaving the temporary holding center empty once again. The group, held for less than a week, was transferred just days before a scheduled court hearing that aimed to challenge the legality of holding migrants at the offshore site.
According to officials familiar with the operation, the migrants were deported to Guatemala and El Salvador on Thursday and Friday through chartered aircraft. The officials, who were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter, declined to reveal the identities or nationalities of those involved.
The detentions had drawn public and legal attention, as Guantánamo Bay is primarily known for housing terrorism suspects rather than migrants. Human rights advocates and immigration lawyers have questioned the US government’s use of the facility, describing it as a troubling sign of how migration enforcement is being extended beyond traditional borders.
The migrants were reportedly held at a newly established temporary compound on the naval base. In February, US Marines were seen conducting training sessions there to prepare for operations related to migrant detentions. This marked the start of what appeared to be a renewed use of Guantánamo for non-military detainees.
While US authorities have described the holding area as a short-term processing center, critics argue that using the site raises serious ethical and legal questions. They have emphasized that detaining migrants offshore, far from US soil, limits their access to lawyers, humanitarian support, and due process.
The recent deportations came just before a planned court session in which legal representatives were set to challenge the detention of migrants at Guantánamo. The removal of the 18 individuals means the facility now stands empty, though officials have not confirmed whether it will be used again for similar purposes.
Since the first detainees arrived at Guantánamo Bay in 2002, the site has remained a symbol of controversial detention practices. The US government continues to face international pressure to ensure transparency and uphold human rights standards in all detention and deportation operations.