Federal court blocks Trump admin from sending detained Venezuelan immigrants to Guantánamo Bay

A federal court has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration from sending three Venezuelan immigrants held in New Mexico to the Guantánamo Bay detention camp. The administration had planned to send the immigrants to the military base as part of its efforts to remove illegal immigrants from the U.S.

The lawyers representing the trio argued that the detainees were being targeted for detention in Guantánamo due to false charges of connections with the Tren de Aragua gang. They filed a legal complaint asking for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from transporting the immigrants to the base. The lawyers emphasized the importance of ensuring access to legal process and counsel for the detainees.

Judge Kenneth J. Gonzales granted the temporary restraining order, according to attorney Jessica Vosburgh, who represents the three men. Vosburgh stated that the order is temporary and will be revisited and further discussed in the coming weeks.

The lawsuit on behalf of the three men was filed by the Center for Constitutional Rights, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico, and Las Americas Immigrant Advisory Center. The legal battle highlights the concerns surrounding the use of Guantánamo as a detention facility for immigrants.

Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that flights carrying detained illegal immigrants had been sent to Guantánamo. Immigrant rights groups have raised objections, arguing that the base should not be used as a “legal black hole” and citing past instances of abuse and torture of detainees at the facility.

The immigrants are being held in a separate section of the Guantánamo detention camp from the 15 detainees already present, including those involved in the planning of the 2001 terrorist attack. The Trump administration has pledged to expand the detention camp to accommodate up to 30,000 “criminal illegal aliens.”

Despite the administration’s efforts to detain and deport immigrants in the country illegally, hundreds of those arrested have been released back into the U.S. The situation remains contentious, with ongoing legal battles and concerns about the treatment of detainees at Guantánamo.

In conclusion, the temporary restraining order serves as a temporary reprieve for the three Venezuelan immigrants facing transfer to Guantánamo. The legal battle underscores the complexities and controversies surrounding the administration’s immigration policies and the use of military facilities for detention purposes. The case will continue to unfold in the coming weeks as further legal proceedings take place.