Ayotte Introduces Legislation to Permanently Ban Guantanamo Transfers to U.S. and Suspend International Releases

Press Release

Following yesterday's announcement that the administration had released two more Guantanamo Bay detainees, US Senator Kelly Ayotte today introduced the Detaining Terrorists to Protect Americans Act of 2016. Continuing her longstanding leadership in the Senate advocating for common-sense detention and interrogation policies, this legislation would permanently ban the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to the U.S. and would suspend the release of Guantanamo detainees internationally until September 30, 2017. The legislation would also permanently prohibit the closure or transfer of U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.

"Our nation needs a common-sense detention and interrogation policy that keeps captured terrorists off the battlefield and enables us to gather the intelligence necessary to prevent future attacks. Unfortunately, this administration seems more interested in releasing terrorists and bringing the remainder to the United States in order to close Guantanamo and fulfill a misguided and dangerous campaign promise," said Senator Ayotte. "My legislation would suspend the administration's dangerous releases that have allowed terrorists to return to the battlefield and permanently prevent the administration from bringing Guantanamo terrorists to the United States. This legislation would also prevent the closure or transfer of U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo, which represents a major national security asset for the United States in the region."

Yesterday, following the release of Guantanamo Bay detainees to Senegal, Ayotte sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Ashton Cater renewing her call for the Department of Defense (DOD) to release an overdue unclassified report regarding the individuals detained at Guantanamo and announcing her hold on the nomination of Jennifer M. O'Connor to be the DOD General Counsel until Congress receives this report.

The most recent report by the Director of National Intelligence concluded that there has been an increase in the percentage of former Guantanamo detainees suspected or confirmed of reengaging in terrorism.

Ayotte's legislation would:

* Make permanent the current prohibition on bringing Guantanamo detainees to the United States;

* Make permanent the current prohibition on construction or modification of facilities in the U.S. to house Guantanamo detainees;

* Suspend all releases from Guantanamo to other countries until September 30, 2017; and

* Prohibit permanently the closure of U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo or its transfer to Cuba.

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