Court Halts Controversial Plan to Relocate Venezuelan Immigrants to Guantánamo

Immigration law book gavel and scales of justice

A federal court has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s plan to send three Venezuelan immigrants detained in New Mexico to Guantánamo Bay.

Key Takeaways

A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the transfer of three Venezuelan immigrants to Guantánamo Bay.
The immigrants were detained in New Mexico and allegedly have false charges of connections with the Tren de Aragua gang.
The case is part of a lawsuit filed by multiple civil rights organizations challenging the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
President Trump plans to expand Guantánamo to hold up to 30,000 “criminal illegal aliens.”
Immigration advocates criticize the use of Guantánamo for immigration detention as a legal and moral misstep.

Court Blocks Transfer to Guantánamo

In a significant development, a federal court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to transfer three Venezuelan immigrants from a detention facility in New Mexico to Guantánamo Bay. Judge Kenneth J. Gonzales of the Federal District Court for New Mexico granted a temporary restraining order, halting the planned transfer.

The case stems from a lawsuit filed by the Center for Constitutional Rights, ACLU of New Mexico, and Las Americas Immigrant Advisory Center. These organizations argue that the use of Guantánamo Bay for immigration detention is inappropriate and potentially violates the detainees’ rights.

BREAKING: Obama-Appointed Judge Kenneth Gonzales Decides to Block Trump Admin From Sending Three Venezuelan Immigrants to Guantanamo Bay pic.twitter.com/21QKXtDTJe

— Wake Up America (@_wake_up_USA) February 10, 2025

Allegations and Legal Challenges

The three Venezuelan men are currently held at the Otero County Processing Center in New Mexico. They are allegedly facing false charges of connections to the Tren de Aragua gang. Their lawyers contend that these accusations are unfounded and are being used to justify their detention and potential transfer to Guantánamo Bay.

The legal action marks the first challenge to the Trump administration’s new policy regarding migrant transfers to Guantánamo. Immigration and human rights advocates have faced difficulties in challenging the policy due to the lack of information on the identities of the approximately 50 men believed to have been sent to Guantánamo.

Trump’s Expansion Plans for Guantánamo

The Trump administration has announced plans to significantly expand the use of Guantánamo Bay for immigration detention. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the administration’s intentions, stating, “Trump has promised to expand the detention camp to hold up to 30,000 ‘criminal illegal aliens.'”

President Trump himself has been vocal about his plans for Guantánamo, emphasizing its intended use for detaining individuals he considers threats to national security going on to say, “We have 30,000 beds in Guantanamo to detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people. Some people are so bad, we don’t even trust the countries to hold them because we don’t want them coming back, so we’re going to send them out to Guantanamo.”

Criticism and Concerns

The plan to use Guantánamo Bay for immigration detention has faced significant criticism from human rights organizations and immigration advocates. They argue that such use of the facility raises serious legal and ethical concerns, given its history and the potential lack of due process for detainees.

As the legal battle unfolds, immigration advocates and civil rights organizations are expected to continue their efforts against the use of Guantánamo for immigration detention. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the Trump administration’s immigration policies and the rights of detained immigrants in the United States.