Gitmo ‘Camp’ Planned for Cubans Fleeing Trump Blockade: General Warns

General Says US Military Will Prepare Guantánamo Bay ‘Camp’ for Cubans Fleeing Trump Blockade

As the Trump administration intensifies a fuel blockade against Cuba, a US Marine Corps general told Congress the military will “set up a camp” at Guantánamo Bay to detain Cubans attempting to flee the resulting humanitarian crisis. The announcement raises concerns about the potential for the controversial detention facility to be repurposed beyond its current employ for prisoners from the “War on Terror.”

During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday, Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) questioned General Francis Donovan, commander of the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), about preparedness for a “humanitarian crisis” in Cuba and a potential influx of refugees. Donovan confirmed the military’s readiness to support the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a mass migration event, including establishing a camp at Guantánamo Bay to “deal with those migrants or any overflow from any situation in Cuba itself.”

Trump Administration’s Expansion of Guantánamo Bay Detention Capacity

This development follows a 2025 executive order signed by President Trump directing DHS and the Pentagon to expand the Migrant Operations Center at Guantánamo Bay to a capacity of over 30,000 beds. The order initially aimed to hold “high-priority criminal aliens unlawfully present in the United States,” but Donovan’s statement suggests a broadening of its potential use to include those fleeing the consequences of the administration’s policies.

The Trump administration is using the naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to detain dozens of foreigners from 26 countries, including those with serious criminal convictions, according to the Department of Homeland Security. CBS News reported that this represents an expansion of efforts to turn Guantanamo Bay into an immigration detention center, initially housing Spanish-speaking Latin American migrants awaiting deportation.

Blockade and Potential Refugee Crisis

The prospect of using Guantánamo Bay to house Cuban migrants comes amid growing concerns about a humanitarian crisis on the island. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned of a “possible mass exodus” from Cuba following an island-wide electricity blackout triggered by the Trump administration’s blockade of fuel shipments. A group of UN rapporteurs stated in January that the blockade constitutes “a serious violation of international law and a grave threat to a democratic and equitable international order.”

The blockade has led to shortages of essential goods, including drinking water, and compromised the operation of hospitals, according to Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. Trump has also made statements suggesting a willingness to capture more aggressive action toward Cuba, even declaring he could “do anything I want” with the “weakened nation.”

What Has Been Sent to Guantanamo So Far?

As of June 23, 2025, approximately 500 migrants have been sent to Guantánamo Bay, despite President Trump’s earlier claim that he would send 30,000. NPR reported that the government has spent over $40 million on holding migrants at Guantánamo in the first two months of the operation. These detainees are held separately from the remaining prisoners held as a result of the U.S. War on terror.

The detainees currently held at Guantanamo Bay reach from a diverse range of countries, including Brazil, China, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Peru, Romania, Russia, Somalia, St. Kitts-Nevis, the United Kingdom, Venezuela and Vietnam. Their criminal records include convictions for homicide, sexual offenses, child pornography, assault with a weapon, kidnapping, drug smuggling, and robbery.

Concerns and Criticism

The potential use of Guantánamo Bay to house Cuban migrants has drawn criticism from human rights advocates and immigration experts. Erik Sperling, executive director of Just Foreign Policy, emphasized that any mass migration event would be a direct consequence of the US “starving Cuba of energy and food.” He and others argue that the Trump administration’s policies are intentionally creating the conditions that could lead to a refugee crisis.

Just Foreign Policy also pointed to public opinion data, citing a YouGov poll showing that only 28% of Americans approve of the US blocking oil shipments to Cuba, even as 46% oppose it. The same poll found that a majority of Americans would oppose the use of military force against Cuba.

What Happens Next?

The immediate next steps will likely involve DHS and SOUTHCOM coordinating to prepare facilities at Guantánamo Bay for a potential influx of migrants. It remains unclear how many migrants the administration anticipates arriving, or what criteria will be used to determine who is detained. The situation will be closely monitored by human rights organizations and legal advocates, who are prepared to challenge any policies that violate international law or due process rights.

The long-term implications of this policy shift are significant. It could further strain relations between the US and Cuba, and potentially exacerbate the humanitarian crisis on the island. It also raises questions about the future of Guantánamo Bay, and whether it will turn into a permanent detention center for migrants as well as suspected terrorists.