Scott Joins Colleagues to Introduce Resolution to Detain ISIL Fighters in Guantanamo

Press Release

Following the recent announcement that U.S. Special Forces captured an Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) leader while carrying out Operation Inherent Resolve, Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) joined Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) and 13 other Senators in introducing a resolution to detain ISIL fighters at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

As the United States continues to conduct combat operations against ISIL, U.S. forces are likely to continue capturing terrorists. Guantanamo Bay was established to house individuals who engaged in, aided, abetted or conspired to commit, acts of international terrorism and should be utilized as such as our nation faces a continued threat of terrorism.

"Instead of trying to empty out Guantanamo and transfer dangerous terrorists to domestic soil in order to fulfill a campaign promise, the President should instead be focused on detaining captured ISIS fighters and other terrorists there," Senator Scott stated. "I visited Guantanamo late last year and met the dedicated Marines who are guarding the terrorists currently held there, and can say unequivocally this is the best place on the planet for us to hold those captured overseas who wish to do us harm. The President's refusal to do so puts our national security at risk, plain and simple."

"Last week when I was at Guantanamo Bay I saw plenty of vacant cells," Senator Daines stated. "Terrorists captured by U.S. forces belong in Guantanamo, a location that has played a pivotal role for collecting intelligence from detainees and keeping terrorists off the battlefield in the global war on terror. These dangerous individuals do not belong on U.S. soil, or in the custody of a nation that may allow them to return to the battlefield as we have seen before. We must ensure they don't continue to spread radical Islam throughout the world, and Guantanamo Bay serves an integral purpose for just that."

"There should be no confusion in the minds of our enemies that, if captured, they will be sent to the detention facility in Guantanamo Bay to be interrogated," Senator Rubio stated. "More than seven years in, the Obama administration still does not have a coherent detention policy that will give our military and intelligence community the best opportunity to extract valuable intelligence to help defeat ISIS, Al Qaeda and other terrorist networks. This White House would rather release terrorists from Guantanamo Bay and hope for the best. We know recidivism rates are rising as released terrorists return to the fight. This resolution makes it clear what our policy should be."

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