Guantánamo receives 10 members of Tren de Aragua: What’s next?

The White House reported that ten members of the dangerous Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua were sent to the Guantánamo military base in Cuba.

“The first flights arrived yesterday afternoon at Guantánamo Bay from El Paso, Texas, with ten members of the transnational gang Tren de Aragua on board,” stated Karoline Leavitt, White House spokesperson.

The Pentagon also confirmed the news, assuring that these individuals are “high-risk illegal foreigners.” However, they did not specify the crimes they are accused of.

Guantánamo receives 10 members of Tren de Aragua: What’s next?

According to the official statement, the detainees are housed in “empty detention facilities” within the base.

The Pentagon explained that this measure is temporary while arrangements are made to transfer these individuals to their home countries or another suitable destination. “The Department of Defense will continue to collaborate with the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies to facilitate the deportation of these foreigners as soon as possible,” the statement indicated.

The Trump Administration’s Stance

Last week, President Donald Trump ordered preparations at Guantánamo to accommodate up to 30,000 migrants and assured that he would send “criminals” in irregular situations.

“The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement takes this measure to ensure the safe detention of these individuals,” stated the Department of Defense.

Meanwhile, the government of Nicolás Maduro, whom the United States does not recognize as president, recently committed to accepting the return of Venezuelan citizens, including gang members expelled from the U.S.

Increase in Immigration Raids

Since Trump took office on January 20, his administration has intensified operations against illegal immigration. During this period, more than 8,000 migrants have been detained, although 461 were released for various reasons.

The White House spokesperson explained that “less than 6%” of the detainees have been released due to reasons such as the lack of immediate deportation options, shortage of detention facilities, or serious health issues.

“None of them have a final deportation order, and many are challenging their immigration status,” she added.

Guantánamo and Its Use in Detentions

The Guantánamo base was inaugurated in 2002, following the September 11, 2001 attacks, to imprison individuals accused of terrorism. Over the years, it has also been used to detain migrants and asylum seekers intercepted at sea.

However, several organizations have denounced the conditions in which these individuals are held. According to some testimonies, detainees are monitored when calling their lawyers, forced to wear sunglasses during transfers, and the facilities are in poor condition, with hygiene issues and the presence of rats.