The US Navy has recently increased the capacity of the Guantánamo Bay detention facility by erecting tents to accommodate 2,000 migrants. This expansion comes amid growing controversy and criticism from immigrant rights organizations and human rights advocates. These groups have filed a civil rights complaint, alleging retaliation against 40 hunger-striking detainees at the Buffalo detention facility. The Trump administration has claimed that many of these migrant men are members of the Venezuelan prison gang, Tren de Aragua, labeling them as the “worst of the worst.” Despite these allegations, reports suggest “low-risk” migrants without criminal records can also be sent to Guantánamo Bay.
The US government has long operated a migrant detention center at the Guantánamo Bay naval base. However, the site gained renewed attention when former President Donald Trump announced plans to increase the number of immigrants detained there. Over 150 migrant men have been transferred from the US to Guantánamo Bay, marking a significant shift in migration management strategies. This decision has sparked widespread concern among advocates who fear decreased transparency and accountability in the treatment of detainees.
A spokesperson from the State Department emphasized the strategic importance of this program in combating illegal maritime migration in the Caribbean.
“This long-running program is an important element of US efforts to deter and disrupt dangerous, illegal maritime migration in the Caribbean,” – A state department spokesperson
Akima, a Virginia-based company, manages the Guantánamo Bay migrant lockup. With over 40 subsidiaries and more than 2,000 contracts with the US government, Akima plays a significant role in immigration detention. Their subsidiaries also run immigration jails for ICE and have faced several contract disputes. A federal audit on a Miami facility run by Akima revealed multiple incidents of alleged "inappropriate use of force."
Concerns about conditions in ICE detention facilities are not new. Advocacy groups have consistently highlighted issues such as abuse, inadequate food and water supplies, poor sanitation, and medical neglect. Setareh Ghandehari of Detention Watch Network expressed skepticism about improvements at Guantánamo Bay, given these systemic problems.
“Conditions are awful throughout the web of Ice detention in the US. People are subject to abuse, food is often rotten, they don’t have access to water. There are places with sewage problems, there is medical neglect and abuse – all of this is endemic, it’s part of the Ice detention system,” – Ghandehari of Detention Watch Network
“So there’s no reason to think Guantánamo will be any different. But because we don’t have the same level of access, it is going to be hard for us to document how bad it really is,” – Ghandehari of Detention Watch Network
Contracting documents reviewed by The Guardian revealed disturbing details about ICE's operational methods at Guantánamo Bay. Migrants are reportedly transported around the base in "black-out vans" with "hand restraints and black-out goggles" to obscure their vision. This approach raises serious concerns about human rights violations and transparency.
The Nana Regional Corporation owns Akima. While Akima's staff is not entirely made up of Alaskan Natives, a portion of its earnings benefits Native shareholders in Alaska. Despite being part of a large conglomerate, both Nana and Akima subsidiaries are classified as "small businesses." ICE awarded a contract to one of Akima's subsidiaries to manage operations at the Guantánamo migrant center.
The Guantánamo Bay US naval base is located on leased land on Cuba's southeastern coast, approximately 430 miles southeast of Miami. It remains physically separated from the Republic of Cuba. Critics argue that its remote location makes oversight and accountability challenging. Bianca Tylek, founder and executive director of Worth Rises, voiced her concerns about this lack of transparency.
“I’m very concerned that as we move on to detaining people at Guantánamo, there will be less and less visibility for the American public as to what is going on there,” – Bianca Tylek, founder and executive director of Worth Rises
DHS inspector general audits have highlighted significant issues threatening detainee health and safety at facilities like Port Isabel in Texas. A report detailed an incident where officers used force despite no apparent threat.
“The officers were not under threat, and the detainee was not a threat to himself or others,” – A report by the DHS inspector general
ICE responded by retraining officers in de-escalation techniques and mental health assistance.
“The officers were re-trained in de-escalation techniques and mental health assistance,” – Ice
Advocates like Setareh Ghandehari see Guantánamo as an alarming expansion of immigration enforcement beyond ICE's traditional scope.
“Guantánamo is an example of how immigration enforcement is expanding past Ice – it is involving the Department of Defense, it is going offshore, in a remote location, to a place that is a place symbolic of abuse and torture,” – Setareh Ghandehari, advocacy director at Detention Watch Network
Detention at Guantánamo Bay raises significant ethical concerns, particularly regarding corporate profit from migrant detention.
“It is that much more infuriating to know that there are massive corporations profiting off of people’s lives and the abuse that people are experiencing in immigration detention,” – Setareh Ghandehari, advocacy director at Detention Watch Network
Jesse Franzblau from the National Immigrant Justice Center criticized the rationale behind detaining migrants at Guantánamo Bay.
“There is no rational justification for shipping off immigrants to Guantánamo Bay, which should not be used to detain any human beings. Sending people there now without any due process or access to counsel flies in the face of US and international law,” – Jesse Franzblau, senior policy analyst with the National Immigrant Justice Center
Abrahan Barrios Morales shared his personal fears about potential detention at Guantánamo Bay, reflecting broader anxieties among migrants.
“I also see that human rights are constantly violated at Guantánamo, so I fear what could happen to me if I get taken there,” – Abrahan Barrios Morales