Trump's Guantanamo Migrant Plan Costs Millions While Holding Just Six
Internal government documents reviewed by CBS show the Guantanamo Bay military base remains mostly empty roughly a year after President Trump vowed to house up to 30,000 migrants there.[1]
CBS says its reporting draws on internal documents and information provided to Congress.[2] The network highlighted the gap between Trump's public pledge and the base's current "mostly empty" status.[2]
President Trump publicly promised to send up to 30,000 migrants to Guantanamo about a year ago.[1] CBS's review shows the plan has not materialized and the facility remains largely unused.[3]
CBS aired video coverage May 13, 2026 that reiterated those findings and framed the situation as a continued gap between the administration's public promise and the on-the-ground reality at the base.[3]
Show source details & analysis (3 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, CBS reported that internal government documents and information provided to Congress show the Guantanamo Bay military base remains mostly empty about a year after President Trump vowed to use it to house thousands of migrants facing deportation.
- The CBS video segment highlights the contrast between President Trump's public pledge to send up to 30,000 migrants to Guantanamo and the base's current 'mostly empty' status documented in recent internal communications.
- CBS reports that Trump's plan to hold 30,000 migrants at Guantanamo has not materialized after roughly one year.
- The network says its reporting is based on internal government documents reviewed by CBS and information provided to Congress.
- CBS frames the situation as a continued gap between the administration’s public promise and the on-the-ground reality at the base.
- CBS aired video coverage on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, reiterating that the promised large-scale transfer to Guantanamo has yet to materialize according to the documents reviewed by the network (CBS video).
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, CBS aired a segment reiterating that President Trump’s plan to hold up to 30,000 migrants at Guantanamo Bay has not materialized after roughly one year.
- The segment emphasizes that despite the pledge, the Guantanamo migrant facility remains mostly empty according to internal government documents reviewed by CBS.
- The video frames the lack of implementation as a continued gap between the administration’s public promise and the current on-the-ground reality at the base.
- CBS reported on May 13, 2026 that internal government documents and information provided to Congress show the Guantanamo Bay military base remains mostly empty about a year after President Trump vowed to use it to house thousands of migrants facing deportation.
- The CBS video segment emphasizes the contrast between Trump's public pledge to send up to 30,000 migrants to Guantanamo and the base's current 'mostly empty' status as documented in recent internal communications.