First images released of migrant flights to Gitmo as Trump ramps up deportations
The first flight of migrants to Guantanamo Bay took off Tuesday, as President Trump follows through on his promise to utilize the military base to hold “criminal illegal aliens.” Fox News Digital obtained exclusive images of migrants boarding a military plane for transportation to the detention center.
Last week, Trump announced his plan to instruct the Pentagon to prepare Guantanamo Bay to accommodate around 30,000 illegal immigrants who have committed serious crimes against American citizens. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Tuesday that the first flights carrying illegal migrants from the United States to Guantanamo Bay are now underway.
The initial flight departed from Fort Bliss with approximately a dozen migrants on board. These individuals will be separated from the 15 detainees already at the facility, which includes alleged 9/11 planners such as Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. President Trump emphasized the severity of the migrants being sent to Guantanamo, stating that some of them are too dangerous to be held in their home countries.
The operation at Naval Station Guantanamo currently involves 380 service members, with the number expected to fluctuate based on the requirements set by the Department of Homeland Security. The cost of expanding Guantanamo to accommodate the influx of migrants has not been disclosed by the Trump administration.
In addition to transferring migrants to Guantanamo, the administration has initiated a comprehensive deportation operation. Trump recently secured agreements from Venezuela and Colombia to repatriate their nationals who are in the U.S. illegally. These diplomatic efforts align with the administration’s strategy to tighten border security and prevent migrants from seeking asylum in the United States.
Since taking office, President Trump has deployed the military to the border, declared a national emergency, and implemented measures to facilitate the arrest and deportation of illegal immigrants. The Department of Homeland Security has also implemented initiatives to increase the efficiency of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, resulting in the daily arrest of over 1,000 individuals.
As the situation at the southern border continues to evolve, Fox News Digital will provide ongoing coverage of immigration and border security developments. Adam Shaw, a politics reporter for Fox News Digital specializing in immigration issues, can be contacted at adam.shaw2@fox.com or followed on Twitter for the latest updates.
