Cuban political dissident Yeilis Torres Cruz was apprehended in 2022 while attempting to reach the United States on a raft with several others. After being detained by U.S. authorities, she spent seven months at the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base fighting for her political asylum case. Her story has gained attention as the Trump administration's directive could lead to Guantánamo accommodating up to 30,000 migrants.
Constant Surveillance and Restricted Movement
Torres Cruz was the sole survivor from her group of 17 rafters not to be returned to Cuba. Her time at the military base was characterized by limited freedom and a persistent feeling of being watched. "You felt detained, like a prisoner, because they were always monitoring you," she shared in an interview with Univision. Torres Cruz was confined at Guantánamo from December 2022 until July 2023. "The Guantánamo experience wasn't pleasant. I spent only seven months there, but some people stay up to two years," she remarked.
According to Yeilis, daily life in the detention center was full of restrictions. "You couldn't leave the 'mug,' as we called it, after seven in the evening. If you wanted to go to the store to buy something, you couldn't; you were already locked in," she recalled. In 2022, she was among 21 migrants at the base, including eight Cubans and three Haitians. Eventually, she was moved to the United States for a medical emergency and stayed four months at the Broward immigration detention center, where she finally won her asylum case. She now resides in Ohio.
Torres Cruz supports the Trump administration's decision to send individuals with criminal records to Guantánamo.
Shifts in Immigration Policy and Uncertain Future for New Detainees
However, what Torres experienced in 2022 might differ significantly—and possibly be less harsh—compared to the challenges faced by migrants currently being sent to Guantánamo. Immigration attorney Mayron Gallardo notes that "these individuals are now being removed from the United States due to criminal backgrounds, affiliations with terrorist groups, or organized crime, and are being sent to Guantánamo because their home countries are not accepting them."
Despite this, the Department of Homeland Security has not ruled out sending migrants without criminal records to Guantánamo. Meanwhile, a federal judge has blocked the deportation of three Venezuelans detained in an ICE facility, preventing their transfer to the military base. "With habeas corpus rulings in federal court, the judge is claiming jurisdiction, and therefore, immigration cannot override a federal judge's jurisdiction," explained attorney Gallardo.
So far, two flights have arrived at Guantánamo, carrying 10 and 13 migrants, respectively.
Understanding the Implications of Guantánamo Detentions
Why was Yeilis Torres Cruz detained at Guantánamo Bay?
Yeilis Torres Cruz was detained at Guantánamo Bay after U.S. authorities intercepted her trying to reach the United States on a raft. She spent seven months there while pursuing her political asylum case.
What changes are being made to U.S. immigration policy regarding Guantánamo?
The Trump administration has plans to use Guantánamo to house up to 30,000 migrants, especially those with criminal backgrounds. However, there is potential for migrants without criminal records to be sent there as well.
How does the Guantánamo experience differ for current migrants?
Current migrants sent to Guantánamo are often there due to criminal records, affiliations with terrorist groups, or organized crime, making their situation potentially different and possibly harsher than past detainees like Torres Cruz.