Cuban Deportees Transferred to Guantánamo Sent Back to U.S.

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Dozens of Cuban men who were deported from the U.S. and then held at the Guantánamo Bay military prison have been transferred back to the U.S. and are now being detained at a facility in Mississippi. The men had voluntarily agreed to abandon their immigration cases in exchange for what they thought would be a return to Cuba, but instead ended up at Guantánamo for weeks before being brought back to the U.S.

Why it matters

This case highlights the complex and often opaque nature of U.S. immigration enforcement, as well as the political tensions between the U.S. and Cuba that can impact the treatment of deportees. It also raises questions about the use of the Guantánamo detention facility for holding immigrants awaiting deportation.

The details

Starting in December, 22 Cuban men were first transferred to Guantánamo, with more flights bringing the total number of Cubans held at the base to 55 by early January. On Monday, all 55 Cubans were transferred back to the U.S. on an ICE charter flight and are now being held at a detention center in Natchez, Mississippi. One man was separated from the group and sent to Houston for medical care. The U.S. has held about 780 migrants at Guantánamo during the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration, with some sent to other countries and others, like the Cubans, having to be brought back to the U.S. first before deportation.

• In December, the first 22 Cuban men were transferred to Guantánamo.
• By early January, the number of Cubans held at the base had grown to 55.
• On Monday, all 55 Cubans were transferred back to the U.S. on an ICE charter flight.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.