> Wouldn't it make more sense to just send them to the home countries if that's the point anyway?

The point isn't to repatriate immigrants to their countries of origin. It's to inflict as much cruelty and suffering as possible to act as an example/deterrent for future would-be immigrants, and to encourage as-yet undetained immigrants to self-deport.

(I am not defending this policy, I think it's abhorrent)