Senator Alleges Trump Guantanamo Migrant Detentions Cost $100K Daily

U.S. Senator Gary Peters highlighted the exorbitant cost of housing migrants at Guantanamo Bay, estimating it at $100,000 per detainee per day, vastly exceeding the $165 daily cost in typical U.S. immigration detention facilities. Peters criticized the government's practice of detaining migrants at Guantanamo only to later transport them back to the U.S. at taxpayer expense, calling it an example of wasteful spending. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was unable to specify the daily cost during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing, where the administration defended its request for an additional $44 billion for immigration enforcement in fiscal year 2026. Approximately 70 migrants are currently held at the naval base, according to a U.S. official. The American Civil Liberties Union has sued to prevent migrant transfers to Guantanamo, citing harsh conditions including near-constant confinement, invasive strip searches, lack of family contact, and reported suicide attempts. Republican Senator Rand Paul also expressed concerns about spending related to immigration enforcement measures.