125 Organizations Call for Closure of Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility for Asylum Seekers
Dozens of rights groups are urging the United States government to shut down the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay military base in Cuba, where asylum seekers are being held under illegal and inhumane conditions. Led by the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) and Haitian Bridge Alliance, a coalition of 125 rights organizations sent an open letter to President Joe Biden demanding the closure of the Guantanamo Migrant Operations Center (MOC) and humane processing of asylum seekers.
The letter emphasized that the US cannot continue to mistreat asylum seekers by exiling them to Guantanamo, where they are isolated from their families, advocates, and the law. The groups also called for an end to intercepting and returning sea-bound migrants to Haiti, highlighting the harsh conditions these individuals face.
An investigation by IRAP revealed inadequate and prison-like conditions at Guantanamo, with reports of mistreatment and lack of transparency. Despite the US State Department denying these claims, the situation has drawn criticism and increased scrutiny from advocacy groups.
‘It should not be a death sentence’
Immigration and border security have become key issues in the upcoming elections, with a rise in border deaths reported. Migrants attempting to cross into the US face increasingly dangerous journeys, with a sharp increase in fatalities.