Former President Trump's proposal to detain undocumented immigrants at Guantanamo Bay has drawn sharp criticism, with some likening it to a "new chapter in the War on Terror." MSNBC host Katie Phang and contributor Paola Ramos discussed the plan on Phang's Saturday show, expressing concerns about the treatment of detainees and the message such a move sends.
Phang referenced Trump's announcement of a presidential memorandum to transfer "criminal illegal aliens" to a 30,000-person facility at Guantanamo Bay. She quoted the vice president of the National Immigration Law Center, who raised concerns about reports of inadequate healthcare, the shackling of pregnant women, and insufficient protections against communicable diseases in detention facilities.
Ramos agreed, stating that the use of Guantanamo Bay evokes the "War on Terror." She argued that the imagery surrounding recent immigration enforcement actions, including ICE raids, troop deployments to the border, military planes transporting migrants, and now Guantanamo, is intended to create the perception of a new phase in the fight against terrorism.
Phang also criticized ICE agents, accusing them of conducting indiscriminate raids and targeting individuals based on their appearance. She argued that the raids operate in reverse of due process, with individuals being detained and then required to prove their citizenship.
A senior Trump administration official reported that over 700 undocumented immigrants were arrested over a recent weekend, with more than 500 having prior convictions or pending charges.
