BARRETT STATEMENT ON THE FIRST GUANTANAMO BAY TERRORIST TRANSFER
Transfer of Terrorists Puts American Families at Risk
WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Gresham J. Barrett (SC, 03) today issued the following statement regarding reports that Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, a Guantanamo Bay terrorist prisoner, had been transferred to the United States:
“The Administration’s actions today open the door to further importation of Guantanamo Bay terrorists. The overnight transfer of Ahmed Ghailani puts American families at risk. While the Administration’s insistence on shutting down the prison at Guantanamo Bay without a clear plan of action may appease other parts of the world, it does little to calm the legitimate concerns of American families who overwhelmingly oppose transferring terrorists into their states. I remain committed to doing all that I can to ensure that terrorists do not set foot in South Carolina.”
Congressman Barrett has consistently opposed the transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees to the U.S. He is a co-sponsor of H.R. 565, which prohibits the use of funds to transfer individuals detained at GITMO to the Naval Brig in Charleston. Congressman Barrett also co-sponsored the Keep Terrorists Out of America Act which requires the Administration to receive certification from state governors and legislatures before a terrorist can be transferred to their state.
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