WASHINGTON (CHATNEWSTV) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed the Pentagon’s commitment to border security on Wednesday, backing a new plan to house criminal migrants at Guantanamo Bay.
“You saw on Day 1 from executive orders, the military’s … commitment to protecting the territorial sovereignty of the southern border, which is a shift,” Hegseth said in a media interview.
His comments followed President Donald Trump’s announcement of an executive order directing the Defense and Homeland Security departments to prepare Guantanamo Bay to detain up to 30,000 criminal migrants.
“President Trump has been very clear that if you aren’t willing to take criminals back … then we will hold you accountable,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth, who previously served at Guantanamo Bay during a National Guard deployment in 2004-2005, called the site the “perfect place” for the detainees. He said the facility’s role would differ from its use during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, when it held suspected terrorists.
“Americans think of ‘Gitmo’ as the images you see on your screen: the detention facilities with folks from the Taliban and al-Qaida … That’s one part of Guantanamo Bay,” he said.
The base, he added, has long supported migrant and refugee operations. According to its official website, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay has been used for “migrant operations, regional humanitarian relief and disaster assistance” throughout its history.
“This is not the camps,” Hegseth said. “This is a temporary transit … where we can plus-up thousands — and tens of thousands, if necessary — to humanely move illegals out of our country where they do not belong.”
Calling the initiative a “plan in movement,” Hegseth said the Pentagon is “ramping up” efforts to increase deportations.
“President Trump is dead serious about getting illegal criminals out of our country,” he said. “And the DOD is not only willing to — it’s proud to — partner with DHS to defend the sovereignty of our southern border and advance that mission.”
