Washington: US President Donald Trump has announced plans to significantly expand the detention capacity at the Guantanamo Bay facility, directing the establishment of a 30,000-person migrant detention center to house “high-priority criminal aliens.”
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The move, part of Trump’s broader crackdown on illegal immigration, was confirmed on Wednesday during a White House event where the president signed the executive order instructing the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to prepare the facility.
Guantanamo Bay to Detain “Worst Criminal” Illegal Immigrants
The Guantanamo Bay detention center, historically used to hold suspected terrorists, will now be repurposed to detain illegal immigrants with criminal records. The new facility is expected to accommodate up to 30,000 detainees, doubling the nation’s capacity to hold those deemed a threat to public safety.
“Some of them are so bad, we don’t even trust their home countries to hold them. Because we don’t want them coming back, so we’re going to send them to Guantanamo,” Trump said during the announcement, emphasizing the severity of the criminal offenses these individuals are accused of committing. The president stressed that the expansion was a critical step in eradicating migrant crime in American communities.
Trump’s order will expand the Migrant Operations Center at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay to accommodate this new wave of detainees, increasing the facility’s detention capabilities. “This will double our capacity immediately. It’s a tough place to get out of. Today’s signing brings us one step closer to eradicating the scourge of migrant crime in our communities once and for all,” he added.
Tougher Immigration Laws in Response to Public Concerns
This latest move follows the president’s broader immigration reform efforts, particularly targeting individuals with criminal histories. Trump has made it clear that deporting illegal immigrants, especially those involved in violent crime, remains a central pillar of his administration’s agenda.
“We have 30,000 beds in Guantanamo to detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people,” Trump reiterated. “We are going to secure our borders, dismantle criminal cartels, and restore national sovereignty.”
New Legislation for Pre-Trial Detention of Violent Immigrants
In addition to the executive order for Guantanamo Bay, President Trump signed the Laken Riley Immigration Act into law, his first piece of legislation since taking office. The law mandates the detention of illegal immigrants accused of violent crimes, such as theft, assault, and murder. The act is named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student who was murdered by an illegal immigrant from Venezuela.
The Laken Riley Act has been hailed by many conservatives as a critical step in strengthening the nation’s immigration laws. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called it “a landmark act” that ensures violent criminals will no longer be released into American communities. “Under President Trump, violent criminals and vicious gang members will no longer be allowed to roam freely,” she said.
However, the law has drawn criticism from Democrats, including Senator Dick Durbin, who argued that it undermines federal authority and could limit the power of federal courts. “This legislation could dramatically reduce legal immigration to our country and undermine the supremacy of the federal government over immigration policy,” Durbin said in a statement.
Further Legislative Efforts on Immigration Control
The Trump administration’s hardline stance on immigration is not slowing down. The Senate Judiciary Committee has introduced the Stop Illegal Reentry Act, which would impose a mandatory minimum sentence of five years for individuals caught illegally reentering the country after multiple convictions or for serious felonies. This proposal aims to strengthen the penalties for repeat offenders and further restrict illegal immigration into the United States.
As the legal and political battles surrounding immigration reform continue, the expansion of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and the passing of the Laken Riley Act are setting the stage for an even more aggressive push to address illegal immigration and border security issues.
