First flight of undocumented detainees to Guantanamo Bay departs the US

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reported Tuesday that the transport of undocumented immigrants to Guantanamo Bay is on track. Leavitt announced live on Fox that the first flight to the internment center was leaving.

"I can also confirm that today, the first flight from the United States to Guantanamo Bay with illegal migrants are [sic] underway," the press secretary declared while explaining the government's repatriation and deportation plans to the network.

In addition, Leavitt recalled that the federal government is in negotiations with the countries of origin of most of the immigrants with the objective that they accept the return of their nationals. Some of these countries, such as El Salvador, have offered to lend their infrastructure to meet the administration's objectives.

The administration announced its intention to use the Guantanamo Bay naval base to hold illegal immigrants as a step prior to deportation. The base is intended to serve as a transit center for migrants en route to their countries of origin, although it is unclear whether they will be able to return easily.

The base's detention facilities were designed to house migrants picked up at sea by the Coast Guard. A small group of people, mostly Haitian and Cuban refugees, are currently being held at the Guantanamo Migrant Operations Center.