House Democrats vote to close GITMO and bring terrorists to U.S. soil (again)

In light of President Obama’s recent announcement that he will push ahead with his plan to close GITMO by the end of his term, House Republicans today passed H.R. 5351, a bill that would prohibit the transfer of any individual detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Predictably, House Democrats voted against this bill, continuing their support for closing GITMO and bringing the dangerous terrorists detained there to U.S. Soil.

• This bill would temporarily prohibit the Department of Defense from transferring or releasing any detainee from GITMO into the U.S. or to any foreign country.
• Last week, President Obama announced his intention to close GITMO by the end of his term in January.
• The Obama administration has recently picked up the pace of transferring terrorists out of GITMO, completing the largest single transfer of his presidency last month.
• These large scale transfers have been made despite reports that at least a dozen terrorists released from GITMO have subsequently been implicated in attacks on Americans.
• Just yesterday, the Obama administration confirmed that two more terrorists released from GITMO rejoined militant groups in the first six months of this year.
• The terrorists remaining at GITMO include some of the world’s most dangerous, including 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

NRCC Comment: “House Democrats’ latest vote to allow President Obama to press forward with his plan to close GITMO and transfer the dangerous terrorists held there to U.S. soil shows just how out of touch they are on national security. By voting to close GITMO, House Democrats prove once again that they care more about pleasing the far-left than protecting Americans from terrorism.” – NRCC Spokesman Bob Salera

Background:

H.R. 5351: Prohibit the Transfer of any Individual Detained at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba

Roll Call 520 – H.R. 5351

Obama Remains Hopeful of Closing Guantanamo Bay Before Term Ends. “U.S. President Barack Obama said he remained hopeful of being able to close the military detention center at Guantanamo Bay before he leaves office in January. “I am not ready to concede that it may still remain open because we’re still working diligently to continue to shrink the population,” Obama said Thursday at a briefing following a summit with Southeast Asian leaders in Vientiane, Laos. “It’s not necessary and it’s hugely expensive for taxpayers.” (Justin Sink, Bloomberg Politics, 9/8/16)

US transfers 15 Guantánamo detainees in largest single release under Obama. “The largest single transfer of Guantánamo Bay detainees of Barack Obama’s presidency was announced on Monday, as 15 long-held men departed the infamous detention center. The transfer, officially announced by the Pentagon on Monday evening, brings the Guantánamo detainee population down to 61.” (Spencer Ackerman, The Guardian, 8/15/16)

At least 12 released Guantanamo detainees implicated in attacks on Americans. “The Obama administration believes that at least 12 detainees released from the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have launched attacks against U.S. or allied forces in Afghanistan, killing about a half-dozen Americans, according to current and former U.S. officials. In March, a senior Pentagon official made a startling admission to lawmakers when he acknowledged that former Guantanamo inmates were responsible for the deaths of Americans overseas.” (Adam Goldman and Missy Ryan, The Washington Post, 6/8/16)

U.S. confirms two more freed Guantanamo inmates rejoined militant groups. “In the first six months of 2016, two more militants released from the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have returned to fighting, the U.S. government said on Wednesday.” (Mark Hosenball, Reuters, 9/14/16)

New report will fuel debate over closing Guantanamo prison. “A new report on Guantanamo detainees tells the stories of former al-Qaida bomb makers and bodyguards as well as low-level militant cooks and medics who have been transferred or cleared for release — despite fears they are at risk of returning to battle.” (Deb Riechmann, Associated Press, 8/10/16)