Five U.S. senators have sharply criticized the Trump administration for spending nearly $40 million in just one month to detain a few hundred migrants at the military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The senators described the operation as a misuse of military resources and a deeply flawed immigration policy.
The delegation, which included Senators Jack Reed, Jeanne Shaheen, Gary Peters, Alex Padilla, and Angus King, visited the base on March 28, 2025, and found only about 85 migrants being held in facilities that were once used to house suspected al-Qaeda detainees. The operation has seen around 1,000 U.S. government employees, primarily from the military, assigned to manage the migrant situation.
Senator Reed, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, expressed his concerns, stating that the administration is “diverting troops from their primary missions” to Guantanamo. He highlighted the staggering costs, saying, “All of that is extraordinarily expensive and unnecessary,” as reported by the New York Times. By mid-March, the Pentagon confirmed that the cost of the operation had reached $39.3 million, a figure that has raised eyebrows among lawmakers.
During the senators' visit, a military flight transported 13 Nicaraguan migrants to Guantanamo, followed by another Air Force cargo plane bringing in 12 more migrants the next day. The base's remote location, surrounded by a Cuban minefield, contributes to its high operational costs, as it relies on shipments from Florida for essential supplies, energy, and water.
The senators expressed their disapproval of the mission's economic viability and legal clarity. They asserted, “This would be better both economically and also in terms of legal clarity if the military were not involved,” calling the program “unsustainably expensive” and lacking in transparency.
Concerns have also been raised regarding the legal basis for the operation, which is governed by a confidential memorandum of understanding between the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security. The administration has claimed that Guantanamo is used only for migrants linked to transnational criminal organizations, but it has not provided clear evidence to support this assertion. Public records for some detainees indicate that their only offenses were repeated illegal entries into the United States.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has since switched to less expensive charter flights for transporting migrants, although no explanation has been given for the initial use of military aircraft. The senators criticized the rushed nature of the operation, stating, “Troops were rushed to Guantanamo Bay without notice, leaving their critical day-to-day military missions behind in order to build tents that should never be filled and guard immigrants who should never be held there.”
Since the first 10 migrants were flown in on February 4, 2025, a total of 395 individuals have passed through Guantanamo. Of these, 177 Venezuelans were deported via Honduras on February 20, while many others were returned to U.S.-based facilities shortly after arriving. The lack of clarity surrounding the operation has only intensified criticism from lawmakers.
As of March 31, 2025, fewer than 90 immigration detainees remained at the base after the U.S. military delivered 17 Salvadorans and Venezuelans from Guantanamo to a prison in El Salvador.
Reed and his fellow senators have urged the administration to reconsider its approach, suggesting that enhancing ICE facilities in the United States would be a more effective solution. “All of that is extraordinarily expensive and unnecessary,” Reed reiterated, emphasizing the need for a more rational and cost-effective immigration policy.
The operation at Guantanamo has faced mounting scrutiny, with the senators declaring, “After examining the migrant relocation activities at Guantanamo Bay, we are outraged by the scale and wastefulness of the Trump administration’s misuse of our military.” They have called for an immediate cessation of what they deem a misguided mission.
As the situation unfolds, the administration has yet to provide a comprehensive public justification for the operation, leaving many questions unanswered. Critics are demanding transparency and accountability, as the costs and legal implications of the Guantanamo migrant operation continue to raise eyebrows.
In summary, the senators' visit to Guantanamo Bay has illuminated significant concerns regarding the administration's immigration policies and the allocation of military resources. With a staggering price tag and limited results, the call for a reevaluation of the current strategy is growing louder.
