The U.S. has begun removing a substantial number of tents from the migrant housing facility at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, as evidenced by recent satellite imagery analyzed by BBC Verify. Following an order from former President Donald Trump to expand the base's migrant capacity to house up to 30,000 individuals, reality fell short, as only a minimal number were ever detained there.
As part of this initiative, the Pentagon allocated approximately $38 million for deportation and detention operations at the base in just the initial month of 2023. However, satellite images reveal that as of mid-April about two-thirds of the roughly 260 tents—initially erected in early February—have been dismantled. A U.S. defense official clarified that this operation's downsizing represents a judicious allocation of resources rather than a decline in readiness.
Construction of the camp commenced on January 30, immediately following Trump's announcement. The operations were distinct from the high-security military prison notorious for detaining suspected terrorists. The first images, taken on April 1, showed a mix of green and white military tents, but by April 10, many tents were no longer visible. By April 16, estimates indicated approximately 175 tents had been removed.
Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff under Trump, reiterated in a Fox News interview the base’s continued operation, claiming that numerous "foreign terrorist aliens" remained detained there. Nonetheless, the White House did not respond to inquiries regarding whether the downscaling of tent structures indicates a reversal of Trump’s initial plans.
Despite Trump's assurance that the expanded facility would house dangerous undocumented migrants—individuals they felt were too risky for other countries to handle—the current deployment appears aimed at supporting a detainee population of around 2,500. BBC Verify's evaluations suggest the tent infrastructure would only accommodate less than 3,000 individuals.
Though the camp was heralded as a solution for serious immigration challenges, reports indicate that around 400 migrants were sent to Guantanamo since its establishment, with over half already returned to domestic facilities. Deportations also occurred, including a group of 177 individuals sent to Venezuela via Honduras in late February.
In response, a congressional delegation of five Democratic senators visited the base on March 28, expressing outrage over what they characterized as the "misuse" of military resources under Trump and the financial burden placed on American taxpayers, estimated at "tens of millions of dollars a month." The lawmakers criticized the camp's setup as designed to evade legal scrutiny and accused the administration of squandering taxpayer funds for an unnecessary operation.
