In a heated Senate hearing, Senator Gary Peters raised eyebrows by revealing that holding migrants at Guantanamo Bay costs a whopping $100,000 per person each day. 😲 Compared to the usual $165 per day in regular U.S. immigration facilities, this figure has sparked a serious debate over wasteful spending.
Peters, the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, grilled Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about why taxpayers are footing such a steep bill—especially when detainees are shuttled back to the United States after being held at the naval base. "We're spending $100,000 a day to keep someone at Guantanamo," he remarked, calling the cost outrageous.
The discussion comes as the White House pushes for a sizable funding increase, requesting an extra $44 billion for the Department of Homeland Security in the upcoming fiscal year 2026. Meanwhile, an unnamed U.S. official mentioned that roughly 70 migrants are currently detained at the Guantanamo Bay facility.
Adding fuel to the fire, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit earlier this year accusing the facility of subjecting migrants to harsh conditions, including confinement in windowless rooms for most of the day and invasive procedures, with some even reportedly attempting suicide. This controversial approach has left many questioning the balance between security measures and humane treatment.
For our young, tech-savvy readers who are always on the lookout for global trends and smart spending, this debate is a reminder that transparency and accountability in government spending matter—not only in the U.S. but everywhere. 📢 Any news that mixes policy with real human cost resonates deeply, pushing us all to ask: what is too high a price?
Reference(s):
Senator: Trump's Gitmo migrant detentions cost $100k daily per person
cgtn.com
