Washington, DC – Congressman Jim Moran, Northern Virginia Democrat, released the following statement regarding news that the Defense Department will transfer two detainees at Guantanamo Bay (GTMO) back to their home country of Algeria. Moran, one of the strongest voices in Congress to close GTMO is currently on a Congressional Delegation trip to the detention facility.
“I welcome the news that President Obama will transfer two of the 86 detainees from GTMO that the Defense Department and Intelligence Community have deemed eligible for transfer. Every day Guantanamo remains open, the reputation of the United States suffers and we provide anti-American propaganda to our enemies. Maintaining the detention center at Guantanamo Bay is more about politics than good policy. It is not worth the damage it continues to inflict on our international standing, including our ability to stand up to human rights abuses in other countries.
“I applaud the President’s commitment to closing this facility and will continue pursuing all legislative options that will allow for the transfer of the remaining 84 detainees who have been cleared.”
Rep. Moran has recently introduced and cosponsored seven amendments to authorization and appropriations bills in the House to allow for transfer of the detainees who have been cleared for transfer to the U.S. for trial or foreign countries for release or further detention.
To read a timeline of Moran’s efforts to close GTMO, please visit: http://moran.house.gov/sites/m…
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