-
Original Date Announced
January 29, 2025President Trump signed an Executive Order directing the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to take all appropriate actions to expand the Migrant Operations Center (MOC) at Guantánamo Bay to its full capacity of 30,000 so it can serve as a detention facility for "high-priority criminal aliens unlawfully present in the United States."
Trump 2.0 [ID #1483]
Expanding Migrant Operations Center at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay to Full CapacityEffective Date
January 29, 2025Subsequent Trump and Court Action(s)
-
February 1, 2025
2025.02.01 - PBS: Pentagon prepares to send more troops to Guantanamo Bay, southwest border to support Trump’s agenda
PBS reports that the Pentagon is preparing new orders to deploy at least 1,000 more active duty troops as part of efforts to crack down on immigration. About 500 marines will be going to Guantánamo Bay - numbers subject to increase.
View Document -
February 3, 2025
2025.02.03 NYT: SecDef Hegseth Comments on Migrants Operations at Guantanamo Bay
Reporting that Secretary of Defense Hegseth may hold "dangerous" immigration detainees in Guantanamo Bay prison cells used for War on Terror detainees. Two people with knowledge said the consolidation of 15 current War on Terror prisoners into a single facility already occurred, leaving the other facility for immigration detainees. About 300 servicemembers have arrived at Guantánamo Bay to secure the base and begin setting up tent camps.
View Document -
February 3, 2025
2025.02.03 - SOUTHCOM: U.S. Military Troops Arrive at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay for Illegal Alien Holding Operations
U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM or USSOUTHCOM) announces that U.S. military members, including U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, and elements from SOUTHCOM, and U.S. Army South were deployed to Naval Station Guantánamo Bay over the weekend. These troops "joined service members already at the base supporting illegal alien holding operations led by DHS." Over 150 service members are supporting the operation.
View Document -
February 4, 2025
2025.02.04 DHS releases images of the first flight of immigrant detainees to Guantanamo Bay
On February 4, 2025, DHS released images of the first flight of immigrant detainees to Guantánamo Bay, all of whom were allegedly members of the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Agua.
View Document -
February 4, 2025
2025.02.04 CBS News: Trump administration sends first group of migrant detainees to Guantanamo Bay
A plane carrying 10 migrant detainees departed from Fort Bliss Army base near the Texas border for Guantanamo Bay. Two U.S officials stated that the migrants were classified as "high-threat" detainees, with one source saying they were Venezuelan men with affiliations to the gang Tren De Aragua.
View Document -
February 8, 2025
2025.02.08 A Tent City Is Rising at Guantánamo Bay - The New York Times
The New York Times reported that more than 30 people described as "Venezuelan gang members" were moved to the Migrant Operations Center (MOC) at Guantanamo Bay. About a dozen of the men were flown from El Paso, Texas. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem visited the base and viewed the open-air tent facilities erected to house new arrivals.
View Document -
February 9, 2025
Complaint: Perez Parra et al. v. Castro et al.
Venezuelan nationals in ICE detention filed for a temporary restraining order stopping their transfer to the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay. This lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court of New Mexico. Perez Parra v. Castro, No. 24-cv-00912-KG-KRS (D. NM.).
**Litigation entries are limited to initial complaints and major substantive rulings. For pleadings and additional information, use name and docket number to search Civil Rights Clearinghouse and CourtListener or visit Just Security Litigation Tracker**
View Document -
February 9, 2025
2025.02.09 Perez Parra et al. v Castro et al., 24-cv-00912-KG-KRS (D.NM.). - Memorandum Opinion and Order
Chief District Judge Kenneth J. Gonzales granted a temporary restraining order barring the U.S. government from transferring the three petitioners to the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay. A status conference was scheduled for March 3, 2025.
*See litigation note above*
View Document -
February 12, 2025
2025.02.12 Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center et al. v. Noem, 1:25-cv-0418 (D.D.C.) - Complaint
On February 12, 2025, nonprofit legal services organizations, on behalf of themselves and immigrants detained at Guantánamo and their family members, sued DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and others to gain access to migrant detainees transferred to Guantánamo Bay. The Plaintiffs argue that the United States has denied access to counsel to migrants transferred to Guantánamo, which renders their right to habeas corpus "meaningless" and violates their legal and Constitutional rights. Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center et. al v. Noem, 1:25-cv-0418 (D.D.C.).
*See litigation note above*
View Document -
February 12, 2025
2025.02.12 U.S. sending nonviolent, "low-risk" migrants to Guantanamo, despite vow to detain "the worst" there - CBS
CBS reported that the Trump administration is sending "low-risk," nonviolent noncitizen detainees who lack criminal records and have not been convicted of serious crimes to Guantánamo Bay. These "low-risk" detainees are being placed in the Migrant Operations Center, which has historically been used to house asylum-seekers who had been intercepted at sea before reaching the United States.
View Document -
February 14, 2025
2025.02.14 Perez Parra v. Castro, 24-cv-00912-KG-KRS (D. NM.) - Notice of Voluntary Dismissal
The three named Plaintiffs in Perez Parra v. Castro, 24-cv-00912-KG-KRS (D. NM.) were removed to Venezuela on February 10, 2025, within 24 hours of securing a temporary restraining order blocking their transfer to the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay. In light of their removal, their counsel filed a notice of voluntary dismissal with the District Court on February 14, 2025.
**Litigation entries are limited to initial complaints and major substantive rulings. For pleadings and additional information, use name and docket number to search Civil Rights Clearinghouse and CourtListener or visit Just Security Litigation Tracker**
View Document
Current Status
NoneOriginal Trump Policy Status
Status: Final/Actual In LitigationTrump Administration Action: Presidential OrdersSubject Matter: Detention EnforcementAssociated or Derivative Policies
Documents
Trump-Era Policy Documents
-
New Policy
- Subsequent Action
- Subsequent Action
- Subsequent Action
- Subsequent Action
- Subsequent Action
-
Subsequent Action
Original Source:
A Tent City Is Rising at Guantanamo Bay
-
Subsequent Action
Original Source:
Complaint: Perez Parra, et al. v. Castro, et al.-
- Subsequent Action
- Subsequent Action
- Subsequent Action
-
Subsequent Action
Original Source:
CourtListener: Perez Parra v. Castro Docket
- Commentary
- Commentary
- Commentary
- Commentary
To provide information, corrections, or feedback, please email IPTP.feedback@gmail.com
To provide information, corrections, or feedback, please email IPTP.feedback@gmail.com
Commentary
‘Frankly Insane’: Trump’s Plan to Ship Migrants to Guantanamo Could Quickly Collapse
Interview with Harold Hongju Koh, Yale Law School professor and former senior State Department official, explaining why the long-term detention of noncitizens in Guantanamo would be illegal.
Go to article"Sending Migrants to Guantánamo Bay is a Costly, Abusive Shift in Immigration Detention," Immigration Impact
Blog post by Chris Opila for the American Immigration Council, estimating the high costs associated with detaining migrants at Guantánamo Bay: five times more than the average annual cost per bed of ICE detention.
Go to article2025.02.07 Letter to DHS, DOD, State Department Requesting Access to and Information Regarding Immigrants Transferred from the United States and Detained at Guantánamo Bay - ACLU
The ACLU and over a dozen other immigrants' rights organizations signed a letter urging DHS, DOD, and DOS to provide access to and release information about noncitizens recently transferred from U.S. immigration detention to Guantánamo Bay. The letter states the transfers are unlawful and demands transparency on the government's authority, custody arrangements, and plans for those detained; detaining immigrants offshore without legal counsel or contact with the outside world violates their rights and sets a dangerous precedent.
Go to article2025.02.10 Venezuelan Migrant Sent to Guantanamo
The NYT reports that the U.S. transferred a Venezuelan migrant who entered the country via CBP One in January to Guantánamo Bay, citing alleged gang ties based on a Michael Jordan tattoo. The article reports: "Over the last week, the United States government has sent more than 80 men to Guantánamo Bay as part of a larger plan by the Trump administration to hold as many as 30,000 migrants at the Naval base. So far, all the detainees are believed to be Venezuelans."
Go to article2025.02.12 Some Migrants Sent by Trump to Guantánamo are Being Held by Military Guards - NYT
On February 12, 2025, the New York Times reported that military troops, rather than ICE or other civilian immigration officers, are guarding dozens of Venezuelan migrants detained at Guantánamo Bay.
Go to articleCNN: ‘Nobody really knows what’s going on’: US officials scramble to expand Guantanamo Bay for migrants
CNN reports that as of February 12, 98 migrants have been transported to Guantanamo Bay. Initial efforts by DHS and DOD to build up infrastructure intended to house migrants on Guantanamo Bay has been "a steep challenge roiled by confusion" due to uncertainty as to whether DOD, ICE, or CBP is leading the rapid operation.
Go to article