Recent satellite images have confirmed the dismantling of a significant portion of the migrant camp at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, revealing a stark drop in the number of tents erected earlier this year.
Guantanamo Bay's Migrant Camp: Tents Torn Down as Operations Shift
Guantanamo Bay's Migrant Camp: Tents Torn Down as Operations Shift
Satellite imagery reveals significant removal of migrant tents at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, sparking questions about the facility's future.
The US has dismantled large parts of a migrant housing camp at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, according to satellite images analyzed by BBC Verify. Initially ordered by President Donald Trump to accommodate up to 30,000 migrants, only a small number have ever been housed there. In just the first month of operation this year, the Pentagon reportedly spent around $38 million on related deportation and detention activities.
Recent imagery shows that approximately two-thirds of the 260 tents set up have been taken down as of April 16. When asked about the tent removal, a US defense official emphasized that this adjustment is a strategic decision, not a signal of reduced readiness.
Construction of the facility began just a day after Trump revealed his plans, with tents popping up between late January and early February and construction carrying on into March. Notably distinct from the infamous military prison for suspected terrorists, the Guantanamo Migrant Operations Center was intended primarily for undocumented migrants.
Despite an official claim from White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller that the base still houses a significant number of "foreign terrorist aliens," there remains uncertainty surrounding both the current population of detainees and the impact of removing the tents.
Despite Trump's initial commitment to an extensive detention facility, reports indicate the capacity may support fewer than 3,000 individuals, far below the intended numbers. Since the camp's inception roughly 400 migrants have been relocated there, but many have since been returned to US facilities or deported.
With an increasing number of concerns raised by lawmakers regarding the use of military resources and the financial burden on taxpayers, Democrat senators recently expressed outrage over the situation, labeling the efforts as excessive and potentially undermining due process rights.
The ultimate fate of the migrant camp at Guantanamo Bay remains under scrutiny, with critics questioning its efficiency and purpose.
Recent imagery shows that approximately two-thirds of the 260 tents set up have been taken down as of April 16. When asked about the tent removal, a US defense official emphasized that this adjustment is a strategic decision, not a signal of reduced readiness.
Construction of the facility began just a day after Trump revealed his plans, with tents popping up between late January and early February and construction carrying on into March. Notably distinct from the infamous military prison for suspected terrorists, the Guantanamo Migrant Operations Center was intended primarily for undocumented migrants.
Despite an official claim from White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller that the base still houses a significant number of "foreign terrorist aliens," there remains uncertainty surrounding both the current population of detainees and the impact of removing the tents.
Despite Trump's initial commitment to an extensive detention facility, reports indicate the capacity may support fewer than 3,000 individuals, far below the intended numbers. Since the camp's inception roughly 400 migrants have been relocated there, but many have since been returned to US facilities or deported.
With an increasing number of concerns raised by lawmakers regarding the use of military resources and the financial burden on taxpayers, Democrat senators recently expressed outrage over the situation, labeling the efforts as excessive and potentially undermining due process rights.
The ultimate fate of the migrant camp at Guantanamo Bay remains under scrutiny, with critics questioning its efficiency and purpose.
