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State Department says DHS manages use of Guantanamo for detained migrants; declines to discuss diplomatic consequences
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Summary
When asked whether the U.S. plans to send detained migrants to Guantanamo, the State Department spokesperson said management of that policy is handled by the Department of Homeland Security and declined to discuss bilateral diplomatic effects.
Andrea Mitchell asked whether European migrants detained in the United States might be sent to Guantanamo and whether that would damage relations with allies. Tammy, the State Department spokesperson, replied that management of the matter is led by the Department of Homeland Security.
“This entire dynamic . . . is managed by DHS,” Tammy said. “It’s certainly not a dynamic managed by the State Department.” She added that moving criminal aliens to Guantanamo in the past was “not the final destination” but a prior holding arrangement before repatriation, and that she would not speak to country‑specific diplomatic conversations from the podium.
Asked whether sending migrants to Guantanamo might hurt alliances, Tammy declined to speculate on diplomatic reactions. “I’m not here to speak about the diplomatic opinion or the speculation of the nature of the feelings,” she told reporters, and directed questions about policy decisions to DHS or the White House when appropriate.
The briefing transcript shows the department framed its role as vetting and diplomatic engagement rather than operational custody or detention decisions. The spokesperson repeatedly referred reporters to DHS for operational questions and to the White House for determinations of overarching immigration policy.
No new change to policy was announced from the podium regarding detention locations, timelines or specific nationalities; Tammy said she would “not speak to any country” on the matter and that diplomatic discussions were ongoing behind the scenes.
