On Sunday, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from transferring three Venezuelan men, who were being held in New Mexico, to Guantanamo Bay.
The move was part of the administration’s broader efforts to remove illegal immigrants from the United States. The three men had been suspected of having ties to the criminal organization Tren de Aragua, though their lawyers have denied these allegations in court filings.
Judge Kenneth J. Gonzales issued a temporary restraining order, halting the transfer after attorneys for the detainees argued that their clients fit the profile of individuals targeted for detention at Guantanamo. The lawyers stated in their filing that Venezuelan men arrested in the El Paso area had been falsely accused of connections with Tren de Aragua, according to Fox News.
The legal team requested that a U.S. District Court in New Mexico intervene, arguing that the uncertainty surrounding the government’s actions created a serious risk of violating due process rights. They contended that the lack of clarity regarding legal procedures and access to legal counsel was sufficient grounds for an injunction to prevent the transfer.
In his ruling, Gonzales emphasized the need for judicial oversight. He stated that given the uncertainty over jurisdiction, it was necessary to block the transfer to ensure that the detainees’ legal rights were protected.
He further noted that preventing the transfer was essential to achieving justice in the case, as reported by The New York Times.
The Trump administration has made clear its intent to use Guantanamo Bay as a detention facility for criminal illegal immigrants.
In late January, Trump announced that the site, which has historically been used to detain foreign combatants, would be repurposed to house some of the most dangerous individuals who have entered the U.S. illegally.
He stated that the facility would serve as a secure location for those considered too great a threat to be detained elsewhere, particularly in cases where their home countries could not be trusted to hold them.
According to Trump, Guantanamo would immediately double the government’s capacity to detain criminal illegal immigrants. The administration has framed this move as a necessary measure to protect national security and prevent violent criminals from being released back into U.S. communities.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on February 4 that the first flights carrying illegal immigrants to Guantanamo Bay had already begun.
The administration has not disclosed the specific number of detainees already sent or how many more may be transferred in the coming months.
The judge’s ruling is a temporary measure, and the case is expected to continue as the court considers the legality of detaining undocumented immigrants at Guantanamo Bay.
The decision represents a setback for the Trump administration’s immigration policies but is unlikely to deter its broader efforts to expand detention facilities and strengthen border enforcement.
The legal battle over Guantanamo’s use for immigration detention is expected to escalate as civil rights groups challenge the administration’s authority on the issue.