The Plight of Venezuelan Migrants: A Harrowing Journey to Guantanamo Bay
Jose, a Venezuelan migrant seeking asylum in the United States, found himself in a nightmare scenario when he was awoken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials at 2:30 a.m. on February 8. His worst fears were confirmed as he was taken to Guantanamo Bay, a place notorious for housing some of the most dangerous criminals and, now, migrants deemed threatening by the U.S. government. Jose and over 170 other migrants were detained at the naval base for two weeks before being deported back to Venezuela. What they endured during their time in Guantanamo paints a disturbing picture of neglect, confusion, and despair.
The Uncertainty and Terror of Guantanamo
Jose described the excruciating conditions during his transfer. Migrants were restrained with handcuffs, leg cuffs, and waist straps, then tied to chairs on a military plane. Despite their suspicions, U.S. officials never confirmed their destination, leaving them in a state of escalating panic. "Our minds were racing, thinking we were kidnapped, wondering who would get us out of there," Jose recounted. Upon arrival, they were placed in squalid rooms with cobwebs and a foul odor. Jose went without a mattress for 10 days, and the meager food provided was barely enough to satisfy their hunger. "The food had no salt, but I would still eat it as if it were very tasty, because I was hungry," he said.
A Lack of Transparency and Basic Rights
The migrants’ experience was further exacerbated by the lack of communication from U.S. authorities. Jose and others were not informed about their destination or the reasons behind their detention. They were also denied phone calls to their attorneys or families, adding to their sense of isolation. "We tried to kick the doors, we went on countless strikes," Jose said, describing their desperate attempts to protest. The psychological toll was immense, with many left to wonder if they had been kidnapped or abandoned. The absence of clarity and basic human rights created an atmosphere of hopelessness and fear.
Detained Without Cause: The Stories of Jose and Jhoan
Both Jose and Jhoan Bastidas Paz, another detainee, insist they are not criminals but ordinary migrants seeking asylum. Jose had attempted to follow legal channels, waiting for an asylum appointment in Mexico through the now-defunct U.S. Customs and Border Protection app. After weeks of waiting without resources, he surrendered to U.S. authorities, only to be detained and eventually transferred to Guantanamo. Jhoan, who crossed into the U.S. from Mexico in 2023, was charged with "improper entry," a misdemeanor he pleaded guilty to. Despite their lack of criminal records, both were sent to Guantanamo, a decision they describe as unfair and unjust.
Protest and Resistance in Guantanamo
The migrants’ desperation led to acts of resistance. Jose and others clogged toilets, covered surveillance cameras, and staged hunger strikes to demand answers. Jhoan, who also participated in a hunger strike, claimed he was only allowed to shower three times during his two-week detention. "We are immigrants and we haven’t committed any crime to be taken to that very ugly prison," he said. Their efforts, however, were met with indifference from officials, who offered no explanation for their detention or eventual deportation. The migrants’ protests were not just acts of defiance but attempts to reclaim some semblance of dignity in a system that seemed determined to dehumanize them.
Trauma and Aftermath: Life After Guantanamo
The ordeal left both Jose and Jhoan deeply traumatized. Jose, now back in Venezuela, has struggled to sleep, haunted by the fear of being sent back to Guantanamo. "I haven’t slept at all because of the fear that I might fall asleep and … I’d wake up back there," he admitted. Jhoan, equally shaken, described the experience as a kidnapping, emphasizing the lies and deceit used by officials to justify their detention. Their stories highlight the broader issue of how migrants, often fleeing dire conditions in their home countries, are treated as criminals rather than human beings deserving of compassion and due process. The use of Guantanamo as a detention center for migrants raises serious ethical and legal questions about the U.S. immigration system and its treatment of vulnerable individuals.
