Once a Symbol of Torture, Guantánamo May Now Hold Migrants

The decision to convert Guantánamo Bay into a detention center for migrants comes with a history that cannot be ignored.  

President Donald Trump announced plans to sign an executive order repurposing the military base to house up to 30,000 undocumented migrants. He justified the move as a national security measure.  

The History Behind Guantánamo Bay

Guantánamo Bay was established as a detention center in 2002 during the George W. Bush administration under the banner of the “War on Terror.” Over the years, its name has become synonymous with indefinite detention, torture, and severe human rights abuses. Prisoners held there have described extreme isolation, psychological torment, and brutal interrogation tactics, many of which were documented by U.S. authorities themselves. In 2014, a report from the Senate Intelligence Committee revealed that Guantánamo was part of a broader secret detention program that subjected detainees to inhumane conditions. Amnesty International, the United Nations, and human rights groups have repeatedly called for the prison’s closure, arguing that it represents a blatant disregard for fundamental human rights. 

Plans to potentially detain migrants at Guantánamo have renewed fears. Many of those who could be sent there are people seeking asylum, a right recognized under international law. The prospect of housing asylum seekers — many of whom are fleeing persecution —within a facility notorious for its past treatment of detainees raises serious legal and ethical questions. Amnesty International previously warned that bringing Guantánamo Bay back into the picture may signal a return to policies that facilitated human rights violations. The organization condemned the prison as “a stain on the United States’ human rights record” and expressed concerns that its continued operation would enable further abuses. 

Despite repeated calls to close Guantánamo, it has remained open through multiple administrations. Political and legal roadblocks have prevented detainees from being transferred elsewhere.  

International human rights organizations have consistently criticized Guantánamo as a legal black hole. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) was among the first international bodies to call for its closure, arguing that the United States was using it to circumvent constitutional protections. Detainees were allegedly subjected to practices such as stress positions, sleep deprivation, and waterboarding — interrogation methods widely condemned as torture.

The cost of keeping Guantánamo open is also staggering. It is estimated that the U.S. government spends approximately $13 million per prisoner annually to maintain the facility, making it one of the most expensive detention centers in the world.  

What’s Next?

If Guantánamo is used to detain migrants, what legal protections, if any, will they have? The reality is that whatever happens next will depend on how far the administration is willing to go in its latest crackdown on immigration.