• A federal court blocked the Trump administration from sending three Venezuelan immigrants to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, for detention. The men, accused of having ties to Tren de Aragua, remain in New Mexico.
• Lawyers argued that transferring the immigrants would create uncertainty surrounding access to legal process and counsel.
• The ruling challenges President Donald Trump’s plan to house up to 30,000 migrants suspected of being in the U.S. illegally at the Guantánamo military base.

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A federal judge temporarily blocked the transfer of three Venezuelan immigrants from a detention facility in New Mexico to Guantánamo Bay. The men, accused of having ties to Tren de Aragua, a transnational criminal gang designated as a terrorist organization by the White House.

Attorneys for the migrants disputed the charges and argued that the transfer would limit access to legal representation.

The temporary restraining order was issued in response to a lawsuit filed by immigrant rights organizations, who said the administration is disproportionately focusing on Venezuelan migrants in the El Paso area. The case will continue in court in the coming weeks.

What is Tren de Aragua?

Tren de Aragua is a criminal network that originated in Venezuelan prisons more than a decade ago. The organization has expanded across Latin America, accused of drug trafficking, human smuggling and violent crime.

In January, the White House designated the gang as a foreign terrorist organization, citing its role in destabilizing communities across the Western Hemisphere.

How is US using Guantánamo Bay for immigration enforcement?

The Biden administration began sending high-priority detainees to Guantánamo Bay. On Tuesday, Feb. 5, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that 10 individuals linked to Tren de Aragua arrived at the naval base.

Officials said they are held in vacant detention facilities separate from detainees captured during the War on Terror.

The U.S. uses Guantánamo Bay as a secure holding location for detainees awaiting deportation.

In some cases, migrants are being transported on U.S. military aircraft, a practice that defense officials said helps facilitate removals to their home countries.

Why are rights groups pushing back?

Immigrant rights organizations have criticized the decision to house detainees at Guantánamo, calling the base a “legal black hole.” They argued that holding migrants at the facility limits access to legal counsel and due process.

On Sunday, Feb. 7, multiple advocacy groups sent a letter to the Biden administration demanding oversight and transparency regarding detainees at the base.

What is the Trump administration’s stance?

President Donald Trump has vowed to expand immigration enforcement and increase deportations.

Reports indicate his administration may seek to house up to 30,000 migrants at Guantánamo Bay as part of expanded immigration enforcement efforts.

Defense officials said they are preparing to scale up detention operations at the naval base if necessary.

What happens next?

The legal fight over Guantánamo Bay’s role in immigration enforcement is ongoing.

The court’s temporary restraining order prevents the immediate transfer of the three Venezuelan detainees, but the case remains unresolved.

The broader policy of detaining high-threat individuals at the base continues to face scrutiny, with further legal and political challenges possible.