Venezuelan Migrants Ask U.S. Court to Prevent Guantanamo Transfer

Three Venezuelan migrants detained in New Mexico have asked a federal judge to block their potential transfer to Guantanamo Bay, fearing indefinite detention at the U.S. military base. The men, who fled Venezuela seeking asylum, claim their prolonged detention violates U.S. law.

The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) filed the request on behalf of the men, saying they have not yet been ordered to Guantanamo, but fear the possibility as the Trump administration expands migrant detention capacity.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has not confirmed any plans to send the men to the base, where the U.S. plans to house up to 30,000 migrants.

President Donald Trump announced the expansion of migrant detention at Guantanamo Bay in late January, a move critics say raises human rights concerns. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has also demanded access to migrants already transferred there, citing lack of transparency over their status.

One of the detainees, Abrahan Barrios Morales, expressed fear about being sent to the base. “I fear being taken to Guantanamo because the news is painting it as a black hole,” he said in a statement released by CCR.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has provided limited details on detainees already sent to the base. Last week, officials confirmed that around 10 migrants were flown to Guantanamo, reportedly linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, but did not disclose criminal charges or convictions.

The legal battle comes as the Trump administration ends deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans, adding to uncertainty for those seeking asylum in the U.S.

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