WASHINGTON — Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the U.S. government to immediately halt the transfer of immigrant detainees to the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base, citing reports of “abusive and inhumane” conditions that may constitute ill-treatment.
The appeal follows interviews with Venezuelan migrants held at the facility in early 2025. Detainees reported being transported without notice, held incommunicado, and confined in unsanitary conditions without access to legal counsel or family contact.
In January 2025, President Donald Trump authorized the expansion of the Migrants Operations Center at Guantánamo to accommodate up to 30,000 individuals labeled “criminal illegal aliens.” Amnesty International condemned the move, citing the facility’s legacy of human rights violations.
Court filings show that nearly 200 Venezuelan migrants were transferred in February, with most held in high-security Camp 6 before being deported via Honduras. Civil rights organizations, including the ACLU and CCR, have filed lawsuits challenging the legality of these transfers and demanding due process protections.
Rights advocates argue that offshore detention undermines U.S. obligations under international law, including the Refugee Convention and the principle of non- refoulement. HRW and Amnesty International warn that Guantánamo’s use for immigration enforcement risks perpetuating a legacy of indefinite detention and human rights abuses.
Excerpts from jurist.org article by Ishika Tanwar | The West Bengal National U. of Juridical Sciences, IN
