Understanding What is Going on in Guantanamo Bay

Barbed-wire fences, barren mountains, and withered palm trees define the stark landscape of Guantanamo Bay, a site long associated with U.S. detention policies. Once a focal point of controversy, the facility has returned to prominence with the recent decision to house migrants at the base.

The Trump administration has initiated the transfer of migrants to Guantanamo Bay via U.S. military aircraft, with at least 112 individuals transported in recent days and plans to expand capacity. The facility, originally designed to house terrorism suspects, is now being repurposed as part of broader immigration enforcement measures.

Over the past week, seven military flights have transported migrants to the base, with officials indicating that the facility could eventually house up to 30,000 individuals. At present, only 2,500 beds are available, and the government is evaluating the logistics of expansion.

But who are the people being detained? Is it legal? What’s the cost and what happens from here?