Hegseth Scheduled to Visit Guantanamo Bay This Tuesday

February 25, 2025 TruthUSA

The Secretary of Defense will be updated on all activities at the military base, which encompasses the Migrant Operations Center and the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility.

On Tuesday, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will travel to Guantanamo Bay, the U.S. naval installation in Cuba where undocumented immigrants have been temporarily housed.

As per a release from the Department of Defense, Hegseth will receive briefings on the full range of operations at the base, including the Migrant Operations Center and the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility.

While Guantanamo Bay operates as a military installation, it also serves to temporarily detain undocumented immigrants awaiting deportation to their countries of origin or other locations as part of President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement policies.

Almost 200 Venezuelan undocumented immigrants in the U.S. have been repatriated to their homeland after their detention at Guantanamo Bay.

The Trump administration has emphasized the removal of individuals who have exhausted all legal avenues to remain in the country. As reported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), nearly 1.5 million undocumented immigrants had final removal orders as of November 24, 2024, which included over 22,000 Venezuelans.

On January 29, Trump issued an executive order mandating the Defense Secretary and the Homeland Security Secretary to enlarge the Migrant Operations Center at the base “to full capacity” to create additional detention space for “high-priority” undocumented immigrants.

The detention center was first established by the George W. Bush administration in January 2002, following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the invasion of Afghanistan. It was intended to detain individuals suspected of having affiliations with al-Qaeda and the Taliban in what the U.S. government termed its “war on terror.” Over the years, the facility has faced criticism regarding the treatment of detainees and the extended detention of individuals without charges.

In 2021, former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that the facility was effective for its intended purpose at the time, but it should ultimately be closed permanently.

Former President Joe Biden pledged at the beginning of his term to shut it down after conducting a review of the detention center, continuing efforts initiated by President Barack Obama.

During his visit to Guantanamo Bay, Hegseth will also meet with U.S. service members stationed at the naval base and aboard the USS Thomas Hudner to express gratitude for their service and discuss their experiences.

“The Secretary’s visit highlights the Department’s commitment to the security and operational readiness of Guantanamo Bay Naval Station and allows for engagement with the dedicated service members and staff who are crucial to the base’s mission,” the Pentagon stated.

This visit marks Hegseth’s inaugural trip to the facility since his confirmation. He has previously been deployed to Guantanamo Bay while serving in the U.S. Army National Guard.

Source: NTD News

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