Pete Hegseth confirms plan to send 'Worst of the worst' criminal migrants to Guantanamo Bay
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has confirmed that the U.S. will use Guantanamo Bay to temporarily hold high-risk criminal migrants.
![Pete Hegseth confirms plans to send criminal migrants to Guantanamo Bay under President Trump’s border security strategy. Photo: LR composition/AFP/CNN Pete Hegseth confirms plans to send criminal migrants to Guantanamo Bay under President Trump’s border security strategy. Photo: LR composition/AFP/CNN](https://imgmedia.larepublica.pe/640x371/uslarepublica/original/2025/01/31/679d4d2ddf574c43915b98bc.webp)
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has confirmed that the U.S. government plans to temporarily house high-risk criminal migrants at Guantanamo Bay, following directives from President Donald Trump. This decision aligns with the administration’s broader efforts to strengthen national security and border enforcement.
During an interview on Fox & Friends, Hegseth stated that Guantanamo Bay will be used as a transit facility to hold the "worst of the worst" before their repatriation to their home countries. The initiative is part of a new border security strategy, which also includes discussions on designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and potential military action against criminal groups targeting Americans.
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Could Guantanamo Bay be housing to high-risk criminals migrants?
Hegseth emphasized that Guantanamo Bay is a secure and well-equipped location to temporarily detain the most dangerous criminal migrants. He described the facility as a "perfect transit point" for individuals deemed too high-risk for immediate release into the U.S. immigration system.
"Guantanamo Bay is a perfect transit point to temporarily house the worst of the worst until we move them back to their home countries," Hegseth explained during his interview.
The decision to use the facility for this purpose follows President Trump’s recent signing of a presidential memorandum, instructing the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to prepare Guantanamo Bay for the detention of "criminal illegal aliens".
According to administration officials, this move is aimed at curbing illegal immigration and ensuring that individuals with a criminal background are not released into U.S. communities while awaiting deportation.
![Trump's immigrants policy has concerned lots of foreigners in the US. Photo: AFP. Trump's immigrants policy has concerned lots of foreigners in the US. Photo: AFP.](https://imgmedia.larepublica.pe/640x640/uslarepublica/original/2025/01/31/679d0edbdf574c43915b989b.webp)
Trump's immigrants policy has concerned lots of foreigners in the US. Photo: AFP.
Criticism and concerns over Guantanamo Detention Plan
The proposal to use Guantanamo Bay as a detention site for criminal migrants has sparked concerns among human rights organizations and immigration advocates.
Critics argue that Guantanamo Bay has historically been used to detain terrorism suspects, raising legal and ethical questions about holding migrants in such a facility. Some fear that the lack of transparency regarding detainee rights and conditions could lead to human rights violations.
However, the Trump administration has defended the plan, stating that this is not a long-term detention solution, but rather a temporary holding measure before deportation. Officials maintain that this strategy is critical to preventing dangerous individuals from being released into American communities.
With border security remaining a key issue in U.S. politics, the debate over migrant detention and national security policies is expected to intensify in the coming months.
Hegseth criticizes National Security Measures in Biden Administration
In addition to plans for migrant detention, Hegseth acknowledged that the Biden administration’s border policies had allowed dangerous individuals to enter the U.S., making decisive action necessary.
When asked about possible military intervention against drug cartels, Hegseth made it clear that all options remain under consideration, particularly if these groups are formally designated as foreign terrorist organizations.
"All options will be on the table if we're dealing with what are designated to be foreign terrorist organizations who are specifically targeting Americans on our border," Hegseth stated.
The discussion about military action against drug cartels has gained momentum among Republican lawmakers, who argue that criminal organizations smuggling drugs and people across the border pose a national security threat. The Trump administration has previously explored military-based solutions, and these new measures indicate a renewed focus on stricter enforcement.