The Trump administration detained Yoiker Sequera at Guantanamo Bay for almost two weeks before he was deported to Venezuela. His mother reflects on finding out her son had been sent to the infamous prison and the effects it had on her.

On Feb. 7, he and other Venezuelan men in ICE detention in El Paso were awakened and told they were going back to Venezuela, Purroy Roldan said. They were transported to Miami and put aboard a military plane – and realized they were actually going to Guantanamo.

The lawsuit says there is no legitimate reason to send migrants to Guantánamo because the U.S. has ample detention facility.

The base had been cleared of migrants since Thursday, after the government sent 177 to Venezuela and one back to the United States.

Mr. Hegseth served at the U.S. Navy base as a National Guard lieutenant. The base is now being used to hold some migrants who face deportation.

Migrants already sent to Guantánamo Bay by the Trump administration allege guards are abusive, withhold water and have restrained people in a “punishment chair.”

Kevin Rodríguez, now back in Venezuela, said the uncertainty of not knowing how long he would be in the U.S. military facility was what worried him the most.