The first military plane carrying deported U.S. migrants lands in Guantanamo Bay.

According to a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity, the United States flew Indian immigrants back to India on February 3.

On Tuesday evening, February 4, 2025, a U.S. official said that the first U.S. military flight deporting migrants from the United States to Guantanamo Bay had touched down in Cuba. It marked the beginning of an anticipated spike in the number of migrants brought to the U.S. naval facility, which was mostly used to hold foreigners linked to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks for decades.

According to a US official, the first US military plane that deported Americans to Guantanamo Bay touched down in Cuba Tuesday night. The US naval installation, which for decades was mostly used to hold foreigners connected to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, saw an anticipated spike in the number of migrants transported there.

According to President Donald Trump, the facility can house up to 30,000 people and has been considered as a holding center.

Guantanamo Bay has been described as a "perfect place" to imprison migrants by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was stationed there while on active duty. In recent days, more US troops have arrived at the base to assist with preparations.


The usage of Guantanamo was condemned by Amy Fischer, director of Amnesty International USA's Refugee and Migrant Rights Program.

"Immigration to Guantanamo is an extremely costly and inhumane decision. In order for the US government to continue violating people's human rights covertly, it will cut them off from their families, attorneys, and support networks, plunging them into a void. Put an end to Gitmo right away!" Fischer stated in a press release.

Furthermore, according to a second U.S. official, the United States flew Indian immigrants back to India on Monday. Both officials provided information not yet available to the public while speaking on condition of anonymity.

Seven deportation flights to Ecuador, Guam, Honduras, and Peru had already taken place. Additionally, two planes of migrants were returned to Colombia by Colombian officials who flew to the United States.

The holding activities at Guantanamo Bay are supported by about 300 service members, and the exact number will change according to the needs of the Department of Homeland Security, the principal federal department. US Marines from the 6th Marine Regiment, who started deploying on Friday, make up at least 230 of those military members.

According to the Pew Research Center, there are about 725,000 undocumented Indian immigrants in the United States, which is the third-highest number of any nation behind Mexico and El Salvador.

The number of Indians trying to enter the country across the US-Canada border has also increased in recent years. In the year ending September 30, the US Border Patrol made more than 14,000 arrests of Indians on the Canadian border, accounting for 60% of all arrests along the border and more than ten times the number made two years prior.