This facility, to be located at the US Navy base in Cuba, would be separate from the existing high-security military prison and is intended for what Trump described as “the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people.”

The announcement coincided with the signing of the Laken Riley Act, which mandates that undocumented immigrants arrested for theft or violent crimes be held in jail until their trial.

Trump emphasised that the new facility would serve as a secure location for migrants intercepted at sea, stating, “Some of them are so bad we don’t even trust the countries to hold them.”

Cuba’s government swiftly condemned the plan, labelling it an act of brutality and criticizsing the US for operating on what they consider occupied territory.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned the decision, calling it a violation of human rights and international law.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem indicated that funding for the new facility would be sought through congressional appropriations.

The existing Guantanamo Migrant Operations Center has been used for decades to house migrants picked up at sea, but the Trump administration’s plans signal a significant shift towards treating the centre as a dedicated detention facility.

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Critics and human rights advocates have raised concerns about the conditions at Guantanamo, noting past allegations of inhumane treatment of detainees.

The Biden administration has stated that the current facility is not a detention centre and that migrants held there are not detained.

As the situation develops, the implications of this announcement are likely to provoke further debate about US immigration policy and human rights.