In recent developments, detainees at Guantanamo Bay are now permitted to contact their attorneys, as stated in court documents. The government argued that the Guantanamo Bay operation was originally intended as a temporary measure before repatriation. On Thursday, the detainees departed on two flights.
Venezuelan migrants were flown from Guantanamo Bay to Honduras and subsequently landed at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, La Guaira State, Venezuela on Feb. 20, 2025. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem inspected the base and the joint operations of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense.
According to an ICE official, the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay will be utilized as a temporary staging facility for repatriated aliens, with the goal of limiting the average stay to the duration necessary for executing the removal orders.
The migrants were initially transported to Guantanamo Bay on 10 U.S. military flights, with the first flight carrying 10 individuals on Feb. 4. These high-threat individuals are currently housed in unused detention facilities to ensure their safe and secure detention until they are transferred to their home countries or other suitable destinations.
President Donald Trump designated Guantanamo Bay’s Migrant Operations Center in an executive order on Jan. 29 to accommodate migrants without legal status living in the United States. This center, distinct from the high-security prison facility for al Qaeda detainees, was expected to operate at full capacity.
The detainees were recently relocated from Guantanamo Bay to Honduras after being granted access to communicate with their attorneys over the phone. In-person visits from the migrants’ attorneys were being evaluated for feasibility and necessity by the Department of Homeland Security.
President Trump emphasized the ample space available at Guantanamo Bay to house individuals, including those deemed as problematic. He noted that while most migrants are challenging individuals, there are also some dangerous ones among them.
We are considering the possibility of relocating the migrant detainees from Guantanamo Bay. Their removal would be in compliance with our country’s laws, and we are currently assessing the situation to determine the feasibility. The future of migrant flights to Guantanamo Bay remains uncertain at this time. This report incorporates contributions from ABC News’ Luis Martinez, Laura Romero, and Stacey Dec. The news of the removal of Guantanamo Bay migrant detainees was initially published on abcnews.go.com.
