Judge denies Trump administration's attempt to dismiss lawsuit questioning Guantánamo migrant detentions

A federal judge has refused the Trump administration's attempt to throw out a lawsuit challenging the detention of migrants at the U.S. Navy base in Guantnamo Bay. On Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan rejected the government's motion to dismiss the case and scheduled a hearing next week to determine the next steps.

In January, President Donald Trump announced plans to use the Guantnamo detention center to house thousands of individuals labeled as the worst criminal aliens, as part of a broader immigration enforcement strategy.

From February through June, approximately 500 immigrants were held at Guantnamo, according to Judge Sooknanan. The government used the facility as a temporary location for immigrants with finalized removal orders.

The lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, which argues that moving immigrants to Guantnamo is illegal. Advocacy groups have echoed concerns about the legality of this practice. The Trump administration maintains it has wide authority to detain immigrants with final deportation orders at the base.

Guantnamo Bay, often referred to as Gitmo, is widely known for housing suspects captured after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Author: Aiden Foster