A federal judge just slammed the brakes on the Trump administration’s attempt to dismiss a major lawsuit challenging the detention of migrants at the U.S. Navy base in Guantánamo Bay. This ruling is a big deal for civil liberties advocates, and frankly, it throws the immediate future of this specific detention policy into total chaos.
U.S. District Court Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan issued the ruling on Friday, denying the federal government’s motion to dismiss the case outright. Now that the administration can’t just toss the lawsuit, Judge Sooknanan has scheduled a hearing for next week. That meeting will be crucial, as the parties involved need to figure out the exact next steps in this complicated legal battle.
Lee Gelernt, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) who argued the case, didn’t hold back his feelings about the decision. He released a statement expressing his hope that the judge’s ruling “will put an end to the Trump administration’s unlawful policy of sending immigrants to military bases in the middle of nowhere solely for the theatric value.” That’s a strong reaction, but it shows just how high the stakes are for the groups fighting this policy.
It’s a win for the group fighting for civil liberty
The whole controversy started in January when the president stated his administration planned to use a detention center at Guantánamo, often called “Gitmo,” to hold tens of thousands of the “worst criminal aliens” as part of a wider crackdown on immigration. For those of us who remember the base, it’s best known for the suspects brought there following the September 11, 2001, attacks. Using it for immigration detention was always going to be a controversial move.
While the administration talked about holding tens of thousands, the actual usage numbers were much lower. According to Judge Sooknanan, the federal government held around 500 immigrants at the base between February and June of this year. Importantly, authorities were using the facility primarily as a way station for immigrants who already had final removal orders.
The ACLU and several other advocacy organizations have been adamant that transporting immigrants to a military base like Guantánamo is simply unlawful. They argue it’s an unnecessary step that adds complexity and distance to an already difficult process, suggesting the move is more about making a political statement than logistical necessity.
On the other side, the Trump administration has strongly defended its position, even after a recent ICE raid targeted Karoline Leavitt’s family member. Officials assert that the administration has broad authority to hold immigrants who have final deportation orders at the facility. They feel completely justified in using this location to manage the flow of people with removal orders.
Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), made it clear that the administration isn’t planning to back down just because of a district court ruling. DHS recently did back down from using Sabrina Carpenter’s song in their bizarre propaganda, though. She issued a statement saying, “We look forward to a higher court’s vindication of our use of this facility to keep criminals off American streets.”
The judge’s decision means the lawsuit moves forward, and the pressure is squarely on the administration to defend the lawfulness of using Gitmo for these detentions.
Published: Dec 8, 2025 06:00 pm