Hegseth goes to Guantanamo as Trump tries to hastily expand site to house 30K deported migrants

This will be Hegseth's first trip to GTMO since his confirmation in January.

Published: February 25, 2025 9:09am

Updated: February 25, 2025 9:26am

Defense Secreatary Pete Hegseth will on Tuesday visit the detention center at the U.S. Navel Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as the Trump administration attempts to use the largely empty facility to house deported illegal migrants.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order last month to have the departments of Defense and Homeland Security expand Guantanamo Bay to hold thousands of illegal immigrants coming from the U.S. He want to hold as many as 30,000 at the site. However, the operation appears to be having some stop and starts.

The Trump administration has halted efforts to place migrants in tent structures at Guantanamo's Migrant Operations Center, amid concerns the emerging facilities don’t meet detention standards, according to CNN.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement said last week the federal agency transported 177 migrants having been held at Guantanamo Bay to Honduras, where they were to be picked up by the Venezuelan government.

Right now, no migrants are being housed at the MOC, and no flights with more migrants expected over the next two days, CNN also reported Tuesday.

Hegseth, in his first trip to Guantanamo since his confirmation in January, will be briefed on mission operations on at the base, according the Defense Department.

He will also meet with U.S. service members at the base and ask them about their experiences at the military prison.

"The Secretary's trip underscores the Department's commitment to ensuring the security and operational effectiveness of Guantanamo Bay Naval Station and provides an opportunity to engage with the dedicated service members and personnel who play a vital role in the base's mission," the department said in a statement.

The facility was established by President George W. Bush's administration after the Sep. 11, 2001, terror attacks to detain terror suspects and "illegal enemy combatants."

The original facility had as many as 680 detainees but now has only 15.