Federal Court Blocks Trump’s Attempt to Transfer Venezuelan Migrants to Guantanamo
A US federal court on Sunday halted the Trump administration’s plan to transfer three Venezuelan immigrants, detained in New Mexico, to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. The men’s lawyers argued they were falsely accused of links to the Tren de Aragua gang and fit the profile of detainees targeted for transfer. Citing concerns over legal rights and access to counsel, a US District Court judge granted a temporary injunction to block the move.
Trump has recently ordered the expansion of Guantanamo to detain up to 30,000 undocumented immigrants labeled as high-threat criminals. The first 10 detainees have already arrived at the facility, which the Pentagon insists is separate from Guantanamo’s military prison and meant for temporary detention. However, human rights groups have strongly opposed the policy, warning that using Guantanamo as a detention center violates constitutional and international law.
At least 14 advocacy organizations, including the ACLU and Center for Constitutional Rights, have demanded transparency on detainee conditions, legal justification, and future plans. They have called on top administration officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to provide details on the transfers and ensure due process protections.
