A federal court has blocked the Trump administration from transferring three Venezuelan immigrants detained in New Mexico to Guantanamo Bay, halting a controversial move under the president’s immigration crackdown.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth J. Gonzales granted a temporary restraining order on Sunday, preventing the detainees’ transfer. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by the Center for Constitutional Rights, the ACLU of New Mexico, and Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center.
According to court filings, the three men were accused of having ties to the Tren de Aragua gang, a criminal network originating in Venezuela. Their lawyers argue the charges are false and that the administration is targeting Venezuelan migrants in the El Paso area as part of a broader crackdown.
Legal Battle Over Guantanamo Transfers
The case highlights growing concerns over the use of Guantanamo Bay Naval Base for immigration detention. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently confirmed that flights of detainees have already landed at the base. Immigrant rights groups have condemned the policy, calling it a “legal black hole” and demanding access to those being held there.
Jessica Vosburgh, an attorney representing the three men, emphasized that the ruling is only a temporary measure. “This will get revisited and further fleshed out in the weeks to come,” she told the Associated Press.
Escalating Immigration Crackdown
The ruling comes amid a surge in immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump, who has vowed to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. Since his January 20 inauguration, over 8,000 individuals have been arrested in immigration operations, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated last week.
The Tren de Aragua gang, originally formed inside a Venezuelan prison, has spread across Latin America in recent years, fueling fears of criminal infiltration among migrants. However, advocates argue that many Venezuelans fleeing Nicolás Maduro’s regime are unfairly targeted by U.S. immigration policies.
What’s Next?
The Biden administration had reduced the use of Guantanamo for immigration detention, but Trump’s return to office has reignited concerns over human rights violations at the base. With legal challenges mounting, the fate of detained migrants and the administration’s controversial policies will be closely watched in the coming weeks.
