Photos released show migrants boarding planes destined for Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
Military medical units, including specialized surgeons from the U.S. Air Force and Army, are set to deploy to Guantanamo Bay this weekend in response to new policies aimed at detaining migrants without legal status in the United States.
An internal order revealed that service members have been briefed on a deployment expected to last over 180 days at a specified location that was redacted.
According to internal communications, the medical personnel are expected to be stationed at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay for a duration of six months.
This deployment involves medical teams from various bases, including the Travis Air Force Base’s medical center in California and the Fort Belvoir Army installation in Virginia.
The Departments of Homeland Security and Defense have yet to provide comments on the situation.
Recently, more than a dozen aircraft have transported over 100 individuals to Guantanamo Bay, following directives aimed at utilizing the naval base for the detention of migrants. Legal challenges are being raised by immigration lawyers, arguing the location hinders access for legal representation, despite DHS’s assurances of communication options for those detained.
The military medical staff will be tasked with providing care to both detainees and civilians at the base.
Earlier this month, a contingent of 150 service members was deployed to assist DHS operations at Guantanamo.
Administration officials have confirmed that the individuals brought to Guantanamo so far are categorized as “high-threat illegal aliens,” with plans to eventually accommodate up to 30,000 migrants at the location, pending their deportations to other nations.
However, implementing this plan may encounter significant legal, financial, political, and logistical challenges. Currently, Congress has not allocated necessary funds for the facility, necessitating the establishment of new structures to house such a large number of individuals.
Rep. John Garamendi from California has criticized the recent deployment orders in a letter to the Defense Secretary, emphasizing that military medical personnel should prioritize the health of U.S. service members and their families.
Garamendi expressed, “While it is vital that detainees at Guantanamo receive appropriate medical care, it is imperative that military resources are not redirected from their primary responsibilities.”
