Laura: I just returned from Guantanamo Bay alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for an exclusive look at how the Trump administration is handling illegal immigration. Here’s what we discovered.

At 7:30 a.m., we arrived at Joint Base Andrews, just outside Washington, D.C. The hum of a government jet filled the air as we prepared to board our flight to Guantanamo Bay, or “Gitmo.” This 45-square-mile military base in southeastern Cuba is best known for detaining 9/11 terrorists, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. However, in the 1990s, it also served as a holding facility for thousands of Haitian and Cuban migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. Now, the base has taken on a new role.

According to officials, Guantanamo has 30,000 beds designated for the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens who pose a threat to the American people. Some detainees are considered so dangerous that their home countries are unwilling or unable to take them back, making Gitmo the administration’s chosen location for their detention.

Aboard the Department of Defense aircraft, we traveled to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, where flights carrying illegal immigrants arrive regularly. The Trump administration sees Gitmo as a key stop in the deportation process, aiming to expedite removal proceedings. However, the current facility only has a few hundred beds available to accommodate detainees at any given time.

Fifty minutes after our arrival, a migrant flight from Fort Bliss landed. Among the detainees were nine high-value individuals from Guatemala, Honduras, Guinea, Venezuela, and Vietnam. The facility’s commander explained that the hospital and psychological care units limit the number of detainees they can process at once, but the system is becoming more efficient daily.

We observed as the detainees were transferred. Shackled and screened upon arrival, they were escorted into waiting vehicles. The process involved boarding a ferry for transport across the base, followed by an additional hour of in-processing at the detention facility. The entire transfer took approximately two hours.

Some might wonder why a large plane is used for transporting only a handful of detainees. The answer lies in security protocols—each detainee is accompanied by at least one ICE officer, along with a full medical team. This setup ensures safety and compliance with operational requirements.

One key detail we learned is that these high-value illegal aliens are held within 50 yards of the 9/11 terrorists at Gitmo. While close in proximity, strict security measures ensure that there is no interaction between the groups.

When asked about sending a message to drug cartels, officials reiterated that nothing is off the table in securing the U.S. border and protecting American sovereignty. Even military action against fentanyl labs in Mexico remains a consideration.

Recently, reports have surfaced criticizing the conditions at Gitmo. A Washington Post article claimed that some detainees transported last week were not criminal offenders but rather ordinary illegal immigrants who alleged mistreatment and isolation. However, Defense Secretary Hegseth dismissed these claims as false narratives meant to undermine the administration’s efforts.

Legal battles continue, with a federal judge recently blocking the transfer of three Venezuelan migrants due to concerns over the transparency of their cases. Advocacy groups are pushing for more legal access and family contact for detainees, but officials maintain that all actions are conducted lawfully.

Coming up, we take you inside the facilities where illegal aliens are held.