The US has removed two-thirds of migrant tents from the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, according to satellite images, indicating a shift in operations for a facility originally expanded under Trump’s administration. Critics argue the expenses associated with the camp are misallocated and wasteful.
Guantanamo Migrant Camp Faces Dismantling Amidst Controversy
Guantanamo Migrant Camp Faces Dismantling Amidst Controversy
Recent satellite imagery reveals a significant reduction in migrant tents at Guantanamo Bay, raising questions about the current status of the facility initially designed for large-scale detention.
The United States has recently dismantled a substantial portion of a migrant camp established at Guantanamo Bay, as evidenced by satellite imagery analyzed by BBC Verify. This facility was initially constructed under President Donald Trump’s directive to accommodate 30,000 migrants soon after he took office. However, actual usage has been limited to only a few hundred detainees.
As per the Department of Defense, the Pentagon allocated approximately $38 million for deportation and detention operations at this site through the first month of operations in 2023. Updated satellite images from April 16 reveal that approximately 175 out of about 260 tents have been removed, prompting inquiries regarding the future of the facility.
A US defense official clarified that this reduction in tents signifies a strategic resource adjustment rather than a decline in operational readiness. The Guantanamo Migrant Operations Center, distinct from the notorious military detention center, began its expansion just a day following Trump’s announcement, with ongoing construction observed until early March.
Despite the site being intended to hold up to 30,000 undocumented migrants identified as national security threats, the facility may only support around 2,500 based on estimates of tent capacity derived from military guidelines. Critics, including a delegation of Democratic senators who visited the base last month, have condemned the financial implications of the camp, labeling it a misuse of military resources and an affront to American taxpayers.
Reports indicate that around 400 migrants have been sent to Guantanamo, with over half of them subsequently returned to the US or deported. As the situation at Guantanamo Bay unfolds, questions remain about the management and purpose of the facility, and whether it aligns with the original intentions laid out by the administration.
