Trump Announces Plans to Send 'Worst' Criminal Migrants to Guantanamo Bay
On Monday, President Donald Trump revealed plans to use the U.S. military facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as a detention center for what he described as the “worst” criminal illegal immigrants.
During a White House ceremony for the signing of the Laken Riley Act, Trump stated, “I’m also signing an executive order to instruct the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to begin preparing the 30,000-person migrant facility at Guantanamo Bay. Most people don’t even know about it.”
He further explained that the facility would be designated “to detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people.”
“Some of them are so bad, we don’t even trust the countries to hold them, because we don’t want them coming back, so we’re going to send them out to Guantanamo,” Trump added.
He emphasized, “That’s a tough place to get out of.”
Trump concluded, “Today’s signings bring us one step closer to eradicating the scourge of migrant crime in our communities, once and for all.”
Today I'm also signing an executive order to instruct the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to begin preparing the 30,000 person migrant facility at Guantanamo Bay. Most people don't even know about it." pic.twitter.com/su3eu24J1Z
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 29, 2025
The Laken Riley Act marks the first bill Trump has signed into law since his return to office.
The legislation passed with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate.
Under the new law, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is required to detain illegal immigrants who are charged with or arrested for offenses such as burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.
The bill honors 22-year-old Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who was tragically murdered in February 2024 while jogging in Athens.
Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan national convicted in November of Riley’s murder, had previously been cited for shoplifting by the Athens Police Department, though ICE was not alerted.
Riley’s family, including her mother, Allyson Phillips, attended the signing ceremony.
Watch President Trump’s very personal reaction to Laken Riley’s mother, Allyson Phillips, as she describes through tears her daughter Laken who was tragically killed at the hands of an illegal from Venezuela who never should have been here. May God bless her memory. pic.twitter.com/xDq08LGjiV
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) January 29, 2025
Phillips became emotional as she expressed gratitude to Trump for keeping his promise to secure the border and for honoring her daughter’s memory.
Trump appeared deeply moved by her words and the grief she still carried.
“Most importantly, I want to thank our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, because without his sacrifices, Laken’s story would have ended on that horrific day that she was taken from us,” Phillips said.
“But because of him, we can continue living, knowing we will see Laken again.”