Will GITMO detainees be moved?
Thursday, December 23, 2010
The House and Senate on Dec. 22 passed a sweeping defense
authorization bill that greatly hampers the President's ability to
close the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, also known as
GITMO. This means detainees will not likely have trials in
federal courts, or be housed in prisons in the U.S. The
federal government had explored buying a state prison in Illinois
and transferring detainees there to await trial.
With passage of the defense bill, it appears detainees will be
tried by military commissions only because the bill bans spending
funds to transfer detainees into the U.S., even for trials.
It further prohibits the purchase or construction of a facility to
house GITMO detainees within the U.S. Many were concerned
about moving suspected terrorists to the U.S. for trial or housing
them in prisons, citing security concerns.
The President could veto the bill, but many speculate he won't
because it authorizes billions of dollars for Iraq and
Afghanistan. The House approved HR 6523 on December 17 by a
vote of 341-48, with my support. The Senate tweaked the
bill and passed it under Unanimous Consent, meaning no votes were
recorded. The House on Dec. 22 approved the final
version of the bill that will be sent to the President without a
recorded vote.
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