The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released images of the first flight transporting migrants, members of the notorious Tren de Aragua gang, to the U.S. military facility at Guantanamo Bay. The individuals, described as “the worst of the worst” by officials, will be held at the military facility as part of the Trump administration’s expanded efforts to address border security and combat organized crime.
On Tuesday evening, the first U.S. military flight transporting migrants from the United States to Guantanamo Bay arrived in Cuba.
“Today, the Department of Homeland Security released images of the first flight of criminal aliens, all of whom were part of Tren de Aragua, preparing to take off for Guantanamo Bay. The worst of the worst criminals will be held at the military facility,” said DHS in a statement.

Secretary Kristi Noem, in a statement, emphasized the administration’s commitment to removing threats to national security. “President Donald Trump has been very clear: Guantanamo Bay will hold the worst of the worst. That starts today,” Noem said.
The move follows a memorandum issued by President Trump on January 29, 2025, directing the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security to expand the Migrant Operations Center at Guantanamo Bay to full capacity.

The memorandum, titled Expanding Migrant Operations Center at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay to Full Capacity, states: “I hereby direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security to take all appropriate actions to expand the Migrant Operations Center at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay to full capacity to provide additional detention space for high-priority criminal aliens unlawfully present in the United States, and to address attendant immigration enforcement needs identified by the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security.”
The document further emphasizes the administration’s goals to “halt the border invasion, dismantle criminal cartels, and restore national sovereignty.”

The decision to transfer these migrants to Guantanamo Bay, a facility traditionally used for holding high-value detainees, has raised concerns from some human rights groups. Critics argue that such moves could lead to further violations of civil liberties.