WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump has announced a controversial new policy to detain up to 30,000 unauthorized migrants at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The decision, unveiled while signing the Laken Riley Act into law, aims to house “the worst criminal aliens” in the high-security detention facility, historically known for holding terrorism suspects.

Laken Riley Act: A Tougher Stance on Immigration

The Laken Riley Act, named after a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student murdered by an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, grants federal authorities greater power to deport undocumented immigrants accused of crimes. The bill, backed by a Republican-controlled Congress and some Democrats, reflects a hardline shift in immigration enforcement.

"She was a light of warmth and kindness," Trump said at the signing ceremony, addressing Riley’s grieving parents and sister. "What’s happening today is a tribute to her. But it’s a tragedy that we have to do this in the first place."

Trump’s Plan for Migrant Detention in Guantanamo

Trump emphasized that deportation alone is not enough, citing concerns that some criminal migrants could easily re-enter the U.S. He announced plans to expand Guantanamo Bay's detention capacity, stating:

“Some of them are so bad we don’t trust their home countries to keep them locked up. So, we’re going to send them to Guantanamo. We have 30,000 beds ready for the worst criminal aliens threatening American safety.”

According to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the administration will seek additional funding for the plan through future spending bills. Tom Homan, the administration’s border czar, confirmed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will oversee the facility.

"This isn’t just about deportation; it’s about ensuring these criminals never set foot in America again," said Homan.

Guantanamo Bay’s Controversial Past & Global Reactions

The Guantanamo Bay Naval Base has long been a symbol of U.S. counterterrorism efforts, used to detain suspected terrorists following 9/11. However, it also houses a Migrant Operations Center, previously used for detaining Haitian and Cuban asylum seekers.

The move sparked immediate backlash from human rights groups, with Stacy Suh, program director at Detention Watch Network, condemning it as “a clear violation of human rights.”

"Guantanamo has a dark history of abuse, indefinite detention, and legal limbo. Sending migrants there will only worsen an already broken system," Suh said.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel called Trump’s decision "an act of brutality", while Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez wrote on X (formerly Twitter):

“The U.S. government’s decision to imprison migrants at Guantanamo, in a facility notorious for torture, shows contempt for human rights and international law.”

The Political and Legal Debate

Trump’s announcement has reignited debates over immigration, detention policies, and executive authority. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in the past that enemy combatants held at Guantanamo have the right to challenge their detention, but it remains unclear whether this ruling would apply to migrants.

Some Democratic lawmakers and the ACLU argue that the Laken Riley Act and Guantanamo detention plan could lead to mass roundups of undocumented individuals, even for minor offenses.

“This bill allows people to be locked up for years simply for being accused of nonviolent crimes. It’s a dangerous precedent,” said Hannah Flamm, senior director at the International Refugee Assistance Project.

However, Republican lawmakers and Senator John Fetterman, a Democratic co-sponsor of the bill, defend it as “a necessary step to prevent future tragedies like Riley’s murder.”

What’s Next?

With this first major immigration move of Trump’s second term, expect legal challenges from civil rights groups, potential resistance from Congress, and international condemnation. Meanwhile, federal officials have already begun evaluating Guantanamo’s infrastructure to accommodate new detainees.

As Trump gears up for further immigration crackdowns, this policy signals a dramatic shift toward a zero-tolerance stance on illegal immigration. The coming months will determine whether this controversial plan survives legal scrutiny or becomes another political flashpoint in an already divided America.

🚨 Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story. 🚨