# Trump admin wants Guantanamo Bay ICE hearing closed to public

> Trump administration seeks to hold secret hearing on Guantanamo Bay deportation facility with press and observers barred.
- Title: Trump admin wants Guantanamo Bay ICE hearing closed to public
- Summary: Trump administration seeks to hold secret hearing on Guantanamo Bay deportation facility with press and observers barred. Trump administration requested…
- Keywords: guantanamo bay, trump administration, ice, deportation, habeas corpus, immigration, immigration and customs enforcement, crime, news, Trump, admin, wants
- Source: Law & Crime — https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/closed-to-the-public-trump-admin-wants-guantanamo-bay-ice-hearing-held-with-press-and-observers-shut-out
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: guantanamo bay, trump administration, ice, deportation, habeas corpus, immigration, immigration and customs enforcement, crime, news
## Guantanamo Bay hearing
U.S. Department of Justice requested federal court to bar public from upcoming hearing on Trump administration's disputed deportation facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
## Hearing scheduled for Oct 14
The hearing is scheduled for October 14, 2026, to address the Trump administration's expansion of the Migrant Operations Center at Guantanamo Bay.
## DOJ motion for secrecy
DOJ motion requested hearing transcript filed under seal pending review for privilege and confidentiality due to sensitive information.
## Government seeks State Department exemption
Government asked court to relieve State Department from obligation to produce witness for the hearing.
## Judge Sooknanan's order
Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan directed government to provide agency representatives fully versed in administrative record for hearing.
## State Department role
Government argued State Department played no role in immigration detention decisions at Migrant Operations Center in Cuba.
## Plaintiffs' lawsuit
Immigrants filed class action lawsuit challenging detention at Guantanamo Bay, claiming lack of statutory authority and violation of Administrative Procedure Act.
## Trump's directive
President Trump issued memorandum on Jan 29, 2025, directing agencies to expand Migrant Operations Center at Guantanamo Bay to full capacity.
## First transfers
By Feb 4, 2025, first group of immigrants transferred to Guantanamo Bay from Fort Bliss, Texas military base.
## Lawsuit claims
Plaintiffs argued Trump administration failed to articulate legitimate reason for holding immigrants at Guantanamo due to ample U.S. detention capacity.
## Lawsuit allegations
Lawsuit claimed government's characterization of immigrants as 'worst of the worst' was legally irrelevant due to lack of statutory authority.
## Judge's ruling
Judge Sooknanan rejected government's motion to dismiss in December 2025, calling Guantanamo detention program 'pretextual'.
## ICE criticism
Judge criticized ICE for sending 'low-risk' immigrants with no criminal record to Guantanamo despite claims of holding 'worst of the worst'.
## Hearing status
As of Thursday, judge had not ruled on government's request for hearing to be closed to public.
## Next steps
Trump administration seeks federal court to close Guantanamo Bay hearing to public with press and observers barred.
## Key takeaway

Trump administration requested federal court to close Guantanamo Bay immigration hearing to public citing national security concerns.