Report: Trump's Guantanamo Migrant Detention Plan Falls Short with Only Six Detainees

A new report reveals that President Donald Trump's promise to detain 30,000 migrants at the Guantanamo Bay naval base has largely failed to materialize. More than a year after directing federal agencies to expand the facility to full capacity, only six migrant detainees from Haiti were held there as of May 2026. Despite the minimal occupancy, the operation is costing the U.S. military approximately $73 million annually, a figure disclosed to Senator Elizabeth Warren. Federal documents indicate that just 832 detainees were transferred to the base over the past year via more than 100 flights, far below the administration's target. While Trump vowed to send the worst criminal illegal aliens to the site, reports suggest nonviolent detainees without serious criminal records were also included. The Department of Homeland Security maintains a strict stance on illegal entry, threatening detention at Guantanamo or other facilities like El Salvador's CECOT prison. Critics highlight the disproportionate cost and staff-to-detainee ratio, noting the facility's controversial history regarding human rights violations. The discrepancy between the ambitious political rhetoric and the operational reality has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and media outlets alike.