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US Reduces Migrant Camp at Guantanamo Bay, Satellite Images Show
Satellite images, reviewed by BBC Verify, indicate that the United States has dismantled a significant portion of a camp constructed to house migrants at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba. This development comes after the US military invested millions in the facility.
Initial Expansion Under Trump Administration
Shortly after assuming office in January, President Donald Trump directed the expansion of the existing facility at Guantanamo Bay. The aim was to accommodate up to 30,000 migrants. However, official records indicate that only a limited number of individuals were ever detained at the base.
Significant Tent Removal Observed
Despite the initial expansion efforts and considerable financial investment, recent satellite imagery reveals a notable reduction in the camp’s capacity. Approximately two-thirds of the 260 tents that were erected as part of the migrant housing project have been taken down as of April 16.
Pentagon’s Stance on Resource Allocation
When questioned about the removal of the tents, a US defense official offered clarification, stating, “This force adjustment represents a deliberate and efficient use of resources – not a decrease in operational readiness.” This statement suggests the tent removal is a strategic realignment of resources rather than an indication of reduced preparedness.
Timeline of Camp Construction and Reduction
Construction of the migrant camp commenced swiftly, just a day after President Trump announced the expansion plan. Tents were erected between January 30 and February 12. Visible construction continued until March 8, with further temporary structures appearing in satellite images. This rapid construction underscored the urgency of the initial plan. However, the subsequent dismantling of tents signals a shift in approach.
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Guantanamo Migrant Operations Center
The construction marked a substantial enlargement of the Guantanamo Migrant Operations Center. This facility has historically been utilized to detain migrants and is separate from the high-security military prison designated for individuals suspected of terrorism.
Visual Evidence of Tent Dismantling
Images from April 1st depict approximately 260 green and white military tents situated southwest of the main Guantanamo Bay base. However, by April 10th, a significant number of these tents had already been removed. Further analysis of lower resolution images confirms that around 175 tents were dismantled by April 16.
Uncertainty Surrounds Migrant Population
The current number of migrants at the facility remains unclear. Despite the tent removals, Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff, asserted in a recent media appearance that the base remained operational and housed “a large number of foreign terrorist aliens.”
White House Response
Requests for comment from the White House regarding whether the tent removal signified a reversal of the Trump administration’s expansion plans went unanswered. This silence leaves the precise reasons behind the camp reduction open to interpretation.
Discrepancy in Intended Capacity
While President Trump initially pledged to accommodate 30,000 migrants at the base, a US defense official indicated the deployment was intended to support a population of 2,500 detainees. BBC Verify analysis, based on US military sleeping guidelines, estimated the likely tent capacity at fewer than 3,000 individuals. This suggests a potential overestimation in the initial expansion plan.
Justification for Guantanamo Bay Migrant Camp
In January, President Trump stated the expanded facility would primarily house undocumented migrants deemed dangerous criminals or national security risks. He asserted that some individuals were considered too high-risk for other nations to detain, stating, “Some of them 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 to Guantanamo… it’s a tough place to get out.”
Migrant Activity at the Base
Since its establishment approximately two and a half months prior, around 400 migrants were reportedly sent to the facility. Over half of these individuals have since been returned to facilities within the US. Others have been deported, including 177 individuals sent to Venezuela via Honduras on February 20.
Senatorial Criticism and Cost Concerns
On March 28, a delegation of Democratic senators visited the base. In a public statement, they expressed outrage at what they termed the “scale and wastefulness of the Trump Administration’s misuse of our military.” They described the migrant camp as “seemingly designed to undermine due process and evade legal scrutiny,” raising serious concerns about the facility’s operational and legal framework.
Financial Implications Questioned
The visiting senators further stated that the cost of transporting migrants out of the US and detaining them at Guantanamo Bay amounted to “tens of millions of dollars a month.” They deemed this expenditure “an insult to American taxpayers,” highlighting the significant financial burden of the operation.