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State Department says DHS manages plan to hold detained migrants at Guantanamo; declines to speak about diplomatic consequences
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Summary
Pressed on reporting that undocumented migrants might be sent to Guantanamo, State Department spokesperson Tammy said Department of Homeland Security manages detention decisions and that the State Department’s role is limited to consular and diplomatic vetting; she declined to speculate on diplomatic fallout with allies.
A reporter asked whether the State Department supported reports that the administration planned to send detained undocumented migrants, including some from allied countries, to Guantanamo Bay. State Department spokesperson Tammy replied that the dynamic “is managed by DHS” and that the State Department does not manage the detention decisions.
Tammy said the State Department’s role is primarily diplomatic and consular: vetting people who enter the United States and coordinating with foreign counterparts on removals. “When it comes to each country, I’m not gonna speak to that… I’m certainly not going to do that. I’m not gonna speculate,” she told reporters, and added that the Department of Homeland Security “is in charge of this particular aspect.”
She noted, without providing country-by-country detail, that criminal illegal aliens have been moved to Guantanamo “prior” to their final removal to home countries and described the action as one part of a “whole of government effort” to enforce U.S. immigration laws. Tammy declined to address whether sending detainees to Guantanamo would damage relations with allies and referred reporters to the White House for policy questions about the president’s broader immigration agenda.
Why it matters: The suggestion of using Guantanamo to hold migrants raised questions about interagency roles, diplomatic clearance for transfers, and potential strain on relations with allied governments whose nationals might be detained.
Details and context: The spokesperson emphasized DHS authority over detention and removal decisions and limited the State Department’s public comments to its vetting and diplomatic functions. She described the U.S. approach as “a whole-of-government framework” involving DHS, DOJ, ICE and the State Department.
Ending: Tammy declined to speculate on diplomatic consequences and urged reporters to direct policy questions about detention destinations to DHS and the White House.
