More than 400 migrants were released due to lack of space at the Guantanamo naval base or because of serious medical conditions, reported Karoline Leavitt, spokesperson for the Donald Trump administration. The president has ordered an increase in detention capacity at Guantanamo to accommodate more than 30,000 people, and more than 150 military personnel have already been deployed for this task, including Marines and other members of the U.S. Southern Command, responsible for Latin America.
By extending the capacity of the migrant center in Guantanamo, Trump claimed that the measure is aimed at detaining the 'worst illegal criminal immigrants' that pose a threat to the American people. According to U.S. law, living in the country without authorization is not a criminal offense but a civil one. Therefore, it is incorrect to assert that undocumented migrants inherently have a 'criminal record'.
Crossing the border without inspection or attempting to enter the U.S. after being deported is penalized, the first as a misdemeanor and the second as a felony. Studies, such as those from Stanford University, have shown that migrants are less likely to commit crimes than U.S.-born citizens.
The White House has assured that the group of migrants sent to Guantanamo consists of alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang. Leavitt stated that detaining violent criminals is being prioritized. This group of 10 migrants is currently in a detention center in Guantanamo temporarily, until they are transferred to their country of origin or another appropriate destination.
The Trump administration has launched a campaign against the more than 11 million undocumented migrants in the country, labeling them as 'criminals' and promising a major deportation campaign. During the first few weeks in power, more than 8,000 people have been detained nationwide, according to Leavitt.
