Summary

Guantanamo Bay's evolution from a post-9/11 counter-terrorism symbol to a site of preemptive detention is explored through a rarely told history. The narrative highlights its initial use to detain Haitian refugees fleeing political persecution after a 1991 coup, demonstrating that American refugee policy has long faced challenges. The practical takeaway is that Guantanamo's roots lie in a history of holding individuals outside U.S. legal frameworks, predating the war on terror.