WASHINGTON—Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is slated to make a trip Friday to Guantanamo Bay, as the Trump administration steps up use of the naval base in seeking to emphasize toughness against migrants it says have criminal backgrounds.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Thursday announced the first deportation flight carrying illegal migrants from the U.S. has arrived at Guantanamo Bay.

Kristi Noem, Department of Homeland Security secretary, says “we have the space, we just have to get to work” at Guantanamo Bay to prepare it for deported migrants.

Department of Homeland Security sources confirmed that 13 Venezuelans are being flown to Guantánamo Bay Detention Camp in Cuba, some of whom are members of the violent Tren de Aragua criminal organization.

The Pentagon said Wednesday that 10 undocumented migrants have been transported to its detention facilities in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the latest effort by the Trump administration to demonstrate its aggressive use of the military to enforce immigration restrictions.

Officials say detainees are being held under guard in vacant jail cells, pending transport to their countries of origin or 'other appropriate destination'

Fox News chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin reports on the first flight of migrants arriving in Guantanamo Bay on 'America Reports.'

The first U.S. military flight deporting migrants from the United States to Guantanamo Bay has landed in Cuba. Ten migrants with suspected gang ties were transferred to the facility, which was previously used to detain suspected al-Qaida members.