Guantanamo Bay Migrant Facility Sees Significant Reductions in Tent Numbers

A detailed analysis of satellite images reveals that the Guantanamo Bay migrant camp, initially expanded under the Trump administration to accommodate 30,000 migrants, has seen significant downsizing, with over half of its tents dismantled amid debates over its operational viability and purpose.

Recent satellite imagery has unveiled a marked reduction in the number of tents at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, a facility heavily utilized for migrant detention. Initially expanded under a directive from President Donald Trump to house 30,000 migrants, the migrant camp now stands with approximately two-thirds of its tents dismantled, as confirmed by analysis from BBC Verify.

The Pentagon allocated approximately $38 million for deportation and detention operations at this facility within the first month of the current year. Newly assessed satellite images indicate that around 175 out of the 260 tents constructed in the camp were removed by mid-April, a move described by a US defense official as a strategic adjustment rather than an indication of reduced operational readiness.

Building of the migrant camp commenced shortly after President Trump unveiled his plans, with active construction taking place from January through early March. The intent was to significantly extend the Guantanamo Migrant Operations Center, a site traditionally used for detaining specific migrant populations separate from the notorious detention facility for terrorism suspects.

Currently, uncertainty surrounds the actual number of migrants remaining on the base. Although Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff, reaffirmed the base's operational status, he did not clarify the extent of its current detainee population. Defense officials maintain that the facility's capacity aims to support a population of around 2,500 detainees, a figure significantly lower than the initial expansive projections.

Despite earlier declarations by President Trump regarding the sending of high-risk undocumented migrants to the base, reports suggest a lesser influx of migrant detainees. Since the camp's establishment, around 400 individuals have been reported processed there, with a notable number returned to the US or deported, including a significant group of 177 transferred to Venezuela through Honduras.

Moreover, a delegation of Democrat senators expressed their criticism regarding the administration's handling of the migrant issue, citing concerns over the financial burden on taxpayers and the apparent neglect of due process in the treatment of individuals subjected to detention at the facility. They articulated that, monthly costs associated with the operation far surpassed reasonable estimates, casting doubt on the practicality and legality of the detain-and-transfer approach implemented at Guantanamo Bay.