Trump Orders Migrants to Guantanamo Bay Amid Controversy

The Guantanamo Bay or Gitmo Camps represent a complex and evolving approach to security and detainment management by the United States. Moreover, Guantanamo Bay is located in Southeastern Cuba. Along with this, for more than two decades these camps have been at the center of national security discussion. These facilities display complexity in addressing Global security challenges and modern conflict. Furthermore, these camps undeniably represent America’s resolution to adapt its security measures. 

The 47th and current president of the United States, Donald Trump signed a Laden Riley Act on Wednesday. He announced that he was ordering the opening of the detention center inside Guantanamo Bay. Furthermore, he said that he is directing this, for the thousands of migrants living illegitimately inside the United States. He added that the states would use Guantanamo Bay as a detention center for these people who can’t be sent back to their countries. He made a clear statement that “ the government is going to send them out to Guantanamo Bay”. Along with this, the president also signed a presidential memorandum and ordered the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defence to start their preparation accordingly. According to this memorandum, Guantanamo Bay’s Naval station will provide additional space for the illegal migrants unlawfully present in the United States.  

What is Guantanamo Bay?

Since 1898, the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay has been used by the United States. Moreover, the United States forces used to use this area in the American-Spanish war. Along with this, in 1903 a treaty was signed between the United States and Cuba. They made a contract for a lease of 45 square miles of land and water at Guantanamo Bay. Furthermore, after three decades in 1934, an agreement was made between these two countries. Under this agreement, they reaffirmed the lease and asked to end the lease. 

The Navy said that discontinuation of the lease requires approval of both the United States and Cuba government. According to the Navy, in 1961, the United States cut all diplomatic relations with Cuba because of the Cuban revolution in the 1950s. As a result of this, in 1964 the Cuban government cut the water and supply avenues. Since then, the Naval station Guantanamo Bay is sufficient with its own power and water. 

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Guantanamo Bay’s Critical History 

Guantanamo Bay has always been a potential closure and center of criticism for decades. Moreover, in 2016 former President Barack Obama signed a memorandum and asked the departments to close the facility. Furthermore, at that time these camps were major targets of human rights groups. The George W. Bush government opened it at the time of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. However, in 2014 Amnesty International said that Guantanamo Bay is continuing to hold a Legacy of torture, injustice,  indefinite detention, and Islamophobia. Furthermore, they said that in Guantanamo Bay the detainees are without fair trials or charges. Along with this, they asserted that this is depriving them of their basic human rights and Violating the United States constitution. 

Barack Obama never completely closed Guantanamo Bay. As congressional Republicans never let them move dangerous detainees. They were considered future terrorist threats. Moreover, during his time in office, Bush transferred more than 500 detainees out of Guantanamo Bay to different countries. Furthermore, Barack Obama transferred almost 200 detainees out of Guantanamo Bay to other countries. However, in 2018, during his first term as President, Donald Trump circulated an executive order to keep the practice open. Along with this, in 2018 President Donald Trump asked Congress to make sure that they have all necessary powers to bring down terrorists in the fight against al-Qaeda and ISIS. 

How does the United States Government use Guantanamo Bay?

The United States government used Guantanamo Bay to bring suspects after the 11th September 2001 attacks. The nonprofit International Refugees Assistant Project said “The migrants are in prison-like conditions in the base,”. Apart from this, the United States has leased Guantanamo Bays for more than a century from Cuba. However, Cuba typically rejects the nominal United States rent payments and opposes the lease. 

Donald Trump’s Proposal for the United States 

President Donald Trump has ordered the transfer of people living illegally in the United States. He will use Guantanamo Bay as their new home. However, Customs Enforcement (ICE) and current immigration have funds only to detain almost 41,000 people. Moreover, during his first term, Donald Trump asked the authorities to detain migrant children and use military bases for them. Along with this, in 2014 Obama also relied on military bases for immigrant children. Furthermore, since the 1970s, US military bases have been detaining and resetting immigrants from Afghanistan, Vietnam, Kosovo, Cuba, and Haiti. 

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Conclusion 

President Donald Trump has vowed to deport thousands of people but the Cuban government has criticized his plans. Moreover, Cuban President Miguel Díaz Canel wrote on X that the United States is trying to expel thousands of migrants forcibly. Along with this, he further wrote that they are placing them in a well-known prison for illegal detention and torture.