United States Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, voiced her support on Sunday for the Trump administration's stringent immigration policies, underscoring the need for tough measures to safeguard national security. Her comments came after President Donald Trump announced plans to expand the naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to house up to 30,000 undocumented immigrants deemed dangerous.
A unit of U.S. Marines has recently arrived at Guantanamo to assist with the expansion of the Migratory Operations Center. According to a White House statement, this move is part of President Trump's mission to protect American citizens and secure the nation. "The president has stated that the 'worst of the worst' will be located there, and we will pursue these bad actors. Last week, I was in New York City. We were going after individuals with arrest warrants for murders and rapes, assaults, arms dealing, and drug trafficking," Noem stated during an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press."
However, Noem sidestepped direct questions about whether the facilities would exclusively detain dangerous individuals and not include women and children. "We will use the facilities we have," she affirmed. "We have other detention centers in the country and will utilize what is appropriate for each individual."
Strategic Focus on Criminal Immigrants
Noem elaborated on the strategy outlined by the current administration, stating, "If we look at what we are doing today, we are targeting the worst of the worst, we have been very clear about that. The president's priority is to pursue criminal foreigners who are making our streets more dangerous."
In the interview, Noem further discussed the administration's plan. "Following that, we have final deportation orders for many individuals in this country, they are the next priority, and we will continue to work with people who are breaking the law and posing a threat to these communities. We will use the detention centers we have established to facilitate this in an orderly manner," she noted.
President Trump asserted that the prison at the Guantanamo naval base will be designated for detaining "the worst illegal foreign criminals who threaten the American people." Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Mark Kelly described the decision to expand migrant detention in Guantanamo as "alarming."
The Department of Defense has indicated that the deployment of Marines and the expansion of facilities at Guantanamo are part of a "security and deterrence" strategy, dismissing the notion that it is an offensive operation or a mass detention of migrants. Noem assured that the administration will act within legal limits and that there is no intention to detain people indefinitely.
Key Questions About Guantanamo Bay's Migrant Detention
What is the purpose of expanding the Guantanamo Bay facilities?
The expansion aims to accommodate up to 30,000 undocumented immigrants considered dangerous, as part of President Trump's strategy to protect Americans and enhance national security.
Who will be detained at Guantanamo Bay?
The facility is intended for the "worst illegal foreign criminals" who pose a threat to the United States, although specifics on the inclusion of women and children remain unclear.
How does the Department of Defense view this expansion?
The Department of Defense considers the expansion as part of a security and deterrence strategy, not as an offensive operation or mass detention of migrants.