U.S. ReleasesNearly Half of Guantanamo Bay Detainees; 15 Remain
In a significant development, the Biden administration has ordered the release of 20 detainees from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. This move reduces the prison’s population to 15, bringing the facility closer to the closure that President Joe Biden has pledged to work towards.
The releases, part of a review ordered by Biden in January, took place over the weekend. The detainees, comprising 14 Yemenis and two Afghans, were transferred to their home countries or other nations that agreed to resettle them. According to the Pentagon, they were released because they were no longer deemed a threat or of strategic importance.
"I’m thrilled to see these men finally reunited with their families. It’s been too long," said a family member of one of the released detainees, who wished to remain anonymous. "I hope the remaining 15 are also set free soon."
The Guantanamo Bay detention camp, established in 2002, has been a contentious issue internationally due to its ongoing operation and allegations of human rights abuses. former President Barack Obama had pledged to close the facility but faced resistance from Congress.
Biden has signaled his intent to revive efforts to close the prison. In a January executive order, he tasked his administration with reviewing the U.S. policy on the detention facility and submitting a plan to close it.
However, challenges remain. Some Republicans oppose the closure, and potential destinations for the remaining detainees may be limited due to security concerns or diplomatic tensions. Additionally, many of the remaining detainees have been cleared for transfer but are still held due to legal or logistical obstacles.
"Today’s releases are a positive step, but there’s still much work to do," said Hina Shamsi, director of the ACLU’s National Security Project. "We urge President Biden to take more concrete actions towards finally closing Guantanamo and ensuring that the remaining men have their day in court or are released."