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DeMint to Offer Amendment to Prevent Transfer of GITMO Detainees
Amendment would prevent known terrorists from being transferred to U.S. soil |
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November 5, 2009 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) announced plans to propose an amendment to the FY 2010 Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill to prevent terrorist detainees being held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba from being transferred to U.S. soil. Senator DeMint will support an amendment being offered by U.S. Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-South Carolina), which would prevent the 9/11 conspirators from being tried in civilian courts, but said additional protections are needed to prevent these terrorists from being brought to the United States.
"While I strongly support efforts to prevent detainees from being tried in civilian courts, that step alone is not enough to protect Americans from terrorists being brought to their communities," said Senator DeMint. "Congress must act now to stop the Obama Administration from transferring these violent terrorists to American soil. The current ban on terrorist transfers will expire in December, but my amendment is necessary to extend the ban for another year."
After reports surfaced last week that President Obama may transfer terrorist detainees from Guantanamo Bay to the Naval Brig in Charleston, S.C., the White House refused to deny reports and admitted that they are considering S.C. among other U.S. locations. As reported by The State newspaper on October 30th: “’Multiple options are being considered,’ said White House spokesman Ben LaBolt.”
“The only option President Obama should consider is what keeps the American people safe, not what appeases the opinions of European elites. It shouldn’t be an option to bring these terrorists into Charleston neighborhoods when it is completely unnecessary. Taxpayers have already paid over $250 million to build the facility at Guantanamo, and by all accounts the detainees are being treated better than any prisoner in American jails. This would be nothing more than appeasement of America’s critics at the expense of the security and safety of families in South Carolina.”
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