Exclusive Look Inside Guantánamo Bay: Housing Illegal Migrants Under Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
Fox News host Laura Ingraham was granted exclusive access to Guantánamo Bay, the controversial U.S. military base in Cuba, to observe the detention of illegal migrants as part of the Trump administration’s intensified efforts to curb illegal immigration. The visit, which commenced early from Joint Base Andrews, provided Ingraham with a firsthand view of the 45-square-mile facility, notorious for housing suspected terrorists, including those linked to the September 11, 2001, attacks.
President Donald Trump authorized the use of Guantánamo Bay for detaining certain illegal immigrants shortly after assuming office on January 20. In a move that sparked widespread debate, Trump expressed his desire to expand immigrant detention centers at Guantánamo to accommodate as many as 30,000 individuals.
Ingraham shared insights from her trip during "The Ingraham Angle" on Wednesday, emphasizing the administration’s decision to utilize the base as a temporary holding facility for illegal immigrants before their repatriation to their home countries.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who served as a U.S. Army lieutenant at Guantánamo from 2004 to 2005 with the New Jersey National Guard, accompanied Ingraham on the visit. Hegseth’s arrival at Guantánamo Bay marked his first trip to the naval installation since his confirmation as Defense Secretary in January.
During his visit, Hegseth received comprehensive briefings on all mission operations at the base, including the detention facility where illegal migrants deported from the United States are housed before being flown back to their native countries. He also addressed reports circulating in the media regarding alleged mistreatment and inhumane conditions at Gitmo, dismissing them as "B.S."
"This idea that people are being mistreated is absolute garbage," Hegseth asserted, emphasizing that the living conditions for migrants held in Gitmo were "austere" and "basic," but provided every essential amenity. He elaborated on the various forms of care and amenities provided to detainees, including medical checks, dental checks, health care checks, welfare checks, and recreational opportunities.
Hegseth underscored that the detention of migrants at Guantánamo Bay was a temporary measure for "high-profile, high-threat individuals" before their return to their home countries.
Ingraham further pressed Hegseth on his message for the cartels, many of which the Trump administration has designated as foreign terrorist organizations. Hegseth responded firmly, stating that "nothing" was off the table in terms of securing the American homeland, maintaining U.S. sovereignty, and protecting the American people.
When questioned about potential strikes inside Mexico on fentanyl labs, Hegseth did not rule anything out. He emphasized that the commander-in-chief, in consultation with relevant advisors, would make those determinations, but reiterated that "nothing is off the table" in defending U.S. sovereignty.
Recent developments included the repatriation of nearly 200 Venezuelan illegal migrants arrested in the United States from Guantánamo Bay, following Venezuela’s expression of interest in accepting its citizens. Prior to this, two Venezuelan flights transported 190 illegal immigrants from the United States to Venezuela.
The U.S. government has alleged that Venezuelan illegal immigrants transferred to the naval base are members of the violent Tren de Aragua gang, which Trump has portrayed as the face of the alleged threat posed by immigrants living in the country illegally.
Upon Ingraham’s arrival at Gitmo, she reported the arrival of a migrant flight from Fort Bliss, carrying nine high-value detainees.
Hegseth reflected on his time at Guantánamo Bay during his military service, describing it as an "incredibly professional operation."
"The message is clear: If you break the law, if you are a criminal, you can find your way at Guantánamo Bay," Hegseth stated, emphasizing the facility’s role as a maximum-security prison for those who have violated the law. He noted the challenging nature of the work carried out by professionals at the base, drawing parallels to the housing of al Qaeda members after 9/11.
