Three Minnesota residents were among nine Somali men deported from Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, to Somalia last week. The men, including Adam Mohamed Abdullah and Hassan Abtidoon, had been held for roughly a month before ICE completed their removal.
Legal basis and swift action
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents informed the detainees that they were being transferred from Louisiana to Somalia, with a refueling stop in Cuba. All nine men carried final removal orders, which ICE says makes the deportations legally justified. “I will admit that, legally, this was proper under the current interpretation of the law,” Twin Cities immigration attorney Marc Prokosch told the Sahan Journal.
Trump administration’s commitment of resources
President Trump’s administration allocated significant resources for the operation, including a private jet to transport the detainees from Cuba to Somalia. Adam, 31, expressed gratitude for the media attention that highlighted the administration’s decisive action.
Conditions of detention
While at Guantánamo, the men were shackled during transport and remained chained on the flight, which included layovers in Puerto Rico, Dakar and Nairobi. Detainees reported bright lights, cold exposure and a strict ten‑minute limit on phone communications. The ACLU has sued to halt the use of Guantánamo for immigration detainees, but the case remains pending.
Impact on families
Adam’s mother died while he was detained in Kentucky, and he was denied a voluntary departure request. Hassan, also 31, said his dreams of work, marriage and education were shattered. He spent hours stranded at Mogadishu airport after ICE confiscated his iPhone and wallet, leaving him without cash or contact information.
Community response
Local advocates and families voiced concern for the men’s safety and well‑being upon return to Somalia. Abdullahi Jamal Abdi’s wife, Reyann, said the deportation stemmed from a minor filing fee issue and that the family is now separated, with their children asking where their father went.
Attorney criticism of policy
Prokosch called the practice of sending detainees to Guantánamo an “abomination” morally and ethically, despite acknowledging its legality. He warned that the policy creates a stigma that unfairly links Guantánamo detainees with terrorism, a tactic he believes is intended to deter future asylum seekers.
What’s next
ICE’s removal orders remain in effect for the deported men, and the ACLU’s lawsuit may shape future use of Guantánamo for immigration cases. The Trump administration continues to prioritize strong immigration enforcement, emphasizing legal compliance and the protection of American communities.
Original reporting: Sahan Journal — read the source article.
