The House of Representatives approved legislation on Thursday that U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN) introduced to temporarily halt the transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees.
The bill – H.R. 5351 – was approved with bipartisan support to halt the transfer of detainees until the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2017 is signed into law, or until the president’s term in office ends.
“After the latest report that two more former Guantanamo Bay detainees have returned to the fight, it is more critical than ever that we put the safety and security of the American people first,” Walorski said. “The administration has made clear it intends to transfer as many terrorist detainees as possible from Gitmo before the president leaves office in order to fulfill a misguided campaign promise. This is reckless, and it puts American lives at risk. Today a bipartisan majority put our national security ahead of politics, voting to pass my bill to pause Gitmo detainee transfers until new safeguards are in place or the president’s term ends.”
The bill was approved a day after the Obama administration announced that two former Guantanamo Bay detainees had returned to the battlefields.
Speaking in support of the bill, U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) noted that Guantanamo Bay is comprised of some of the world’s most heinous terrorists.
“Releasing these terrorists and closing GITMO is a true national security concern at home; therefore, I urge my colleagues to stand with our brave men and women in uniform and show them that their sacrifices have not gone to waste – and vote today in support of H.R. 5351,” Stefanik said.
A report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence found that 30 percent of all former detainees are known to or are suspected to have reengaged in terrorist activities.
U.S. Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN) said that she was proud to support Walorski’s legislation to halt transfer of dangerous individuals.
“With nearly one third of detainees returning to terrorism after their release, it’s clear that that a more thorough vetting process must be established before any more transfers are granted,” Brooks said. “This is about keeping our country safe, and this bill couldn’t be more necessary. Especially when many of these countries do not have the resources to monitor and secure these individuals to prevent them from engaging once more in terrorist activity. I will always put the security of our nation and the safety of our citizens first, and this legislation is one way that we can better secure our homeland.”