What’s happening in Guantanamo Bay right now?

As recent as this past March, there are illegal immigrants who have been transferred to Guantanamo Bay, Naval Base in Cuba. This process started as early as January 30th, shortly after President Trump took office, tents were constructed and it appears that this continued into March. 

 Guantanamo Migrant Operations Center (GMOC) and Trump’s Directive 

Essentially, after coming into office, President Trump wanted the Department of Homeland Security and the Pentagon to expand a migrant detention facility  to hold 30,000 migrants. Instead, only a fraction of that figure was actually held though the Pentagon spent millions on the operation. Historically, this facility used to hold migrants and detainees suspected of terrorism in the United States. 

Tent Removal at the Guantanamo Naval Base

By early to mid-April, the tents were removed. It is recorded that about 400 migrants have been sent there, but since its construction, almost half have been returned to the US, or deported, like the large group that was sent to Venezuela via Honduras on February 20th. So how did this naval base come to exist on the tropical island?

A History of the Guantanamo Bay Naval Station

In February 1903 the United States leases 45 square miles of land and water at Guantanamo Bay to use as a fueling station. Then in 1934, a treaty reaffirmed the lease and Cuba became a trading partner.  This land remained until Fidel Castro began his revolution and official diplomatic relations with Cuba were broken off by President Eisenhower, just before President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration. In 1964 Castro cut off water and supplies to the base and since then, the United States has been self-sufficient with it’s own sources of water and power. 

Evolving Role of the Naval Station

In the 1990’s the naval station was used to house Haitian and Cubans fleeing their home countries seeking asylum. Then in 2001 shortly after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11th, President George W. Bush issued a military order directing the detention of certain non-citizens suspected of involvement in international terrorism. There were up to 2,000 detainees most of whom are no longer there. 

Constitution, the President’s Authority & Guantanamo

Since the Cuba Naval Base was permitted in a treaty from 1934, the terms of the lease agreement can be altered with consent with the Cuban government. Presidents have claimed authority to execute the terms of treaties and it seems that Congress is able to alter the 1934 treaty as well. The sanctions on Cuba do not affect the lease of Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. As for detainees at Guantanamo, in 2008, the Supreme Court ruled in Boumediene v. Bush that they are entitled to protection of the United States Constitution.