MIAMI, FL – Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez (FL-26) led an opposition to President Biden’s plan to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facilities and demanded a commitment from the White House that current detainees would not be transferred to South Florida. The letter was co-signed by Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) and Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27).
In the letter, the members write that Guantanamo Bay is critical to keeping known terrorists from continuing their plot of attacks against the United States and allies around the world. The letter in part states:
“The facilities at GTMO were opened following the attacks of September 11, 2001 and are used to house some of the most notorious terrorists who have committed, or conspired to commit, grave harm to the United States, including the 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. The detention facility is vital to keeping our enemies off the battlefield and off our shores.”
Should the Biden administration continue to pursue closure of the detention facility, the members urge President Biden to continue the policy that would prevent the transfer of detainees into the mainland United States, saying:
“Just five years ago, you stood with then President Obama while he committed to closing the detention center at GTMO, yet President Obama ultimately did not do so… [W]e urge you to continue the congressionally approved longstanding policy that bars the federal government from transferring detainees at Guantanamo Bay to the U.S. mainland. As a country, we must ensure these ruthless terrorists never set foot on American soil, and in South Florida in particular.”
Please click here to read the full letter.
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Originally published at https://gimenez.house.gov/press-releases?ID=127FCFC7-AEE0-4C3E-A45D-467895055F63
