US Department of Defense Proposal to Close Guantanamo Bay Already Set
The U.S. Department of Defense is ready to hand in its proposal to Congress for closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. The plan consists of different options on how the prison will be closed. It will be submitted on Tuesday, Feb. 23.
"The plan is to submit to Congress what our thoughts are on the issue and what we see is a way ahead necessary to achieve the closure of Guantanamo and to specifically point out the need for legislative relief," said Navy Capt. Jeff Davis.
One of the proposed plans is to transfer some of the detainees back to the United States and the remaining prisoners to other countries. However, many GOP lawmakers have opposed this plan and have banned detainees coming to the country as they pose a threat to national security.
How many detainees are still at Gitmo? 91. The Obama administration started with 242.
— Michelle Kosinski (@MKosinskiCNN) February 22, 2016
Obama's Promise
Two days after Barack Obama assumed his position as president in 2009, he signed an executive order that will close Guantanamo Bay in a year. Seven years have passed, but the POTUS is still determined to fulfill his promise despite the opposition of Republicans and his fellow Democrats.
"Submitting a plan to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay is yet another sign that President Obama is more focused on his legacy than the will of the American people," said Kansas Rep. Lynn Jenkins. "Republicans and Democrats are united on this issue: bringing the inmates housed at Guantanamo Bay to the United States is a nonstarter."
Kansas' Fort Leavenworth is one of the choices where some of the remaining 91 prisoners may be transferred. The federal supermax prison in Florence, Colorado and Naval Consolidated Brig in Charleston, South Carolina are the other locations where detainees might end up.
Cuba will also raise the Guantanamo Bay issue during Obama's visit to the country this March. The Caribbean island nation also wants the Guantanamo territory back from the United States as part of the countries' full diplomatic restoration.
Republican Opposition
Potential lawsuits from Kansas, Colorado and South Carolina are some of GOP's plans if prisoners will be transferred to the United States.
"Our border state governors who had standing in courts went and sued the administration," said House Speaker Paul Ryan.
The opposition also plans to cite two recently signed bills by President Obama. The defense authorization and defense appropriations bills have the power to halt the transfer of prisoners from Guantanamo Bay into the country.
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