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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has confirmed that he is prepared to carry out President Trump’s directive to establish a 30,000-person migrant detention facility at Guantánamo Bay.

Some shit you should know before you read: Guantánamo Bay, a US naval base in Cuba, is best known for its detention facility, which has housed terrorism suspects since 2002. The facility became a symbol of human rights controversies, with detainees held indefinitely without trial and reports of harsh interrogation tactics, including waterboarding. In 2009, President Barack Obama signed an executive order to close the prison, citing damage to US credibility and national security interests, but congressional opposition blocked its closure. As of 2024, about 30 detainees remain, down from a peak of nearly 800, yet the facility still costs taxpayers an estimated $540 million annually—making it one of the world’s most expensive prisons.  

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What’s going on now: While appearing on Fox News, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth strongly defended President Donald Trump’s memorandum directing the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to prepare a 30,000-person migrant detention facility at Guantánamo Bay. Hegseth called the location theperfect spotto temporarily house deported migrants before they are sent back to their home countries.We don’t want illegal criminals in the United States—not a minute longer than they have to be. Move them off to Guantánamo Bay, where they can be safely maintained until they are deported to their final location.Hegseth, a former Army officer who served at Guantánamo, insisted that the base has ample space and resources to house migrants, stating,Absolutely we can. And we can plus that up very rapidly.”

Hegseth also pushed back against comparisons to the military prison at Guantánamo, clarifying that the migrant facility would be separate from the high-security detention area holding terrorism suspects. “This is not the camps. This is a temporary transit, which is already the mission of Naval Station Guantánamo Bay, where we can plus up thousands—and tens of thousands, if necessary—to humanely move illegals out of our country.” He framed the move as part of Trump’s broader effort to “protect the American people” and ensure swift deportations, particularly for illegal immigrants whose home countries refuse to accept them. Hegseth added, “We know we can execute it, and the Defense Department is prepared to do everything we can.”

This comes as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) intensifies arrests and deportations under President Trump’s immigration policies. Since taking office, Trump has prioritized swift removals of undocumented migrants, with ICE increasing workplace raids, interior enforcement, and border apprehensions. The agency has been publicizing daily arrest figures and says they’ve detained 5,537 illegal immigrants.

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