Inside Guantanamo Bay: From Terrorist Detention to Potential Migrant Housing Under Trump's Orders

President Donald Trump has announced plans to detain up to 30,000 undocumented immigrants at the U.S. military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. This decision has ignited a firestorm among immigrants and human rights activists, as well as some legal experts.

Guantanamo Bay, often referred to as "GTMO" or "Gitmo," has a long and contentious history. Established in 1903, the naval base has been a focal point of U.S. military operations in the Caribbean. However, it gained international notoriety in the early 21st century.

In 2002, following the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. set up a detention camp there to hold terrorism suspects. The facility has since become synonymous with allegations of human rights abuses, including torture and indefinite detention without trial.

The detention center was designed to be outside the jurisdiction of U.S. courts, creating what some have called a "legal black hole." Over the years, nearly 800 detainees have passed through its cells, with only a handful ever charged with crimes. As of 2025, 15 detainees remain, many still held without charge.

The facility's history is marred by numerous scandals. Reports of waterboarding, force-feeding during hunger strikes, and other forms of torture by organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have surfaced over the years. Despite not being charged with a crime, many prisoners have been held for decades. In 2006, three detainees died under mysterious circumstances, officially ruled suicides, though questions about the true cause of their deaths persist.

Inside Gitmo

The detention camp, often shrouded in secrecy, is a sprawling facility divided into multiple compounds, each with varying levels of security and accommodation. The most notorious among them is Camp Delta, a complex that includes Camps 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Within this 612-unit network, detainees experience vastly different conditions based on their perceived threat level and compliance.

According to the Guantanamo Memory Project, for those held in Camp 6, the conditions resemble a high-security American prison. Detainees are housed in small, single-occupancy cells with steel doors that have narrow slots for guards to observe them.

The cells measure approximately 6 by 12 feet, with only a metal bunk, a sink, and a toilet. The walls are made of reinforced concrete, designed to minimize communication between prisoners. Fluorescent lights remain on 24/7, an element some detainees describe as a form of psychological torture

In contrast, Camp 4 offers communal living arrangements for "low-risk" detainees. Here, prisoners can move around within a secured enclosure, have access to outdoor recreation for extended periods, and can even interact with one another. They are provided with basic amenities like books, prayer mats, and access to a communal dining area. However, conditions can change abruptly if a detainee is deemed noncompliant.

The recreational yard, shared among different camps, is a fenced-off area where detainees can exercise, play soccer, or simply stand under the sun when permitted. However, access to this space is a privilege, often revoked as punishment. Some prisoners report spending months, even years, without seeing natural sunlight, says the report 'Locked Up Alone', from Human Rights Watch.

According to another report, this one from the United Nations, one of the most restrictive areas is Camp Echo, where high-profile or particularly uncooperative detainees are placed in solitary confinement. This facility is stark and isolating. Cells here are entirely enclosed, with no windows or natural light.

Inmates remain in solitary confinement for 22 to 24 hours a day, with little to no human contact. Some have been subjected to force-feeding through nasal tubes, a practice that gained international attention during hunger strikes.

Different reports indicate that some prisoners suffer from severe psychological distress due to prolonged isolation. Many detainees experience hallucinations, paranoia, and suicidal thoughts.

Surrounding the prison complex is a series of razor-wire fences, watchtowers, and heavily armed military personnel. The Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO) oversees operations, with guards rotating in shifts to monitor detainees around the clock. Drones and cameras ensure that no movement goes unnoticed, reinforcing the sense of perpetual surveillance.

Despite the Pentagon's claims that the facility has been modernized and operates under humane conditions, many former detainees and international organizations argue that Guantanamo remains a place of indefinite suffering, secrecy, and moral depravity.

President Trump's recent directive to repurpose Guantanamo for detentioning undocumented immigrants marks a significant shift in its function. The plan involves expanding existing facilities to accommodate the influx.

Critics argue that this move could lead to further human rights violations, given the facility's troubled past. Legal experts have also raised concerns about the lack of due process for detainees held outside the U.S. mainland.

Beyond its role in the "War on Terror," Guantanamo has also been used to detain migrants intercepted at sea, particularly during the 1990s Haitian refugee crisis. These migrants were held in separate facilities from terrorism suspects, but conditions were often harsh, leading to criticism from human rights groups.

The financial implications are staggering. Estimates of experts reported by The New York Times suggest that the cost of detaining individuals at Guantanamo could reach $66 billion annually. This figure includes expenses for facility expansion, security, and daily operations. Given the high costs and the facility's controversial history, many question the prudence of this decision.