House Republicans Introduce Bill Banning Gitmo Detainees From U.S. Soil
4591246With President Obama ordering the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility within the year, House Republicans today introduced legislation to prohibit federal courts from ordering the release or transfer of detainees from the facility onto U.S. soil.
"Closing Guantanamo Bay presents a clear and present danger to all Americans," said House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith. "These suspected terrorists must now be relocated and if they are transferred to military prisons in the U.S., they automatically will be granted rights far beyond those given to enemy combatants by any other country."
"The result is that many will petition friendly federal judges who may order their release into U.S. communities," he continued.
The legislation, known as the Enemy Combatant Detention Review Act, has the backing of Minority Leader John Boehner and other prominent House Republicans.
In addition to preventing courts from bring enemy combatants into the U.S., the bill requires that an alien captured and detained abroad during wartime cannot be admitted and released into the country.
© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. "Closing Guantanamo Bay presents a clear and present danger to all Americans," said House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith. "These suspected terrorists must now be relocated and if they are transferred to military prisons in the U.S., they automatically will be granted rights far beyond those given to enemy combatants by any other country."
"The result is that many will petition friendly federal judges who may order their release into U.S. communities," he continued.
The legislation, known as the Enemy Combatant Detention Review Act, has the backing of Minority Leader John Boehner and other prominent House Republicans.
In addition to preventing courts from bring enemy combatants into the U.S., the bill requires that an alien captured and detained abroad during wartime cannot be admitted and released into the country.
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I am seriously frightened for our country and for our Allies. And yet, the person chosen to be our President is closing Gitmo? His reasoning here escapes me. I feel it is just a matter of time before we will be attacked again. And before liberals jump on me, I am not a Republican. I just want the person elected to give it more than 3 or 4 days before making such an enormous decision. I felt so powerless on September 11, 2001. I am starting to feel that way again now. I truly hope the new administration can resolve our world conflicts with the direction they are taking. However, our enemies care not what our belief system is. They only want to destroy every non-Muslim. And again, before the bashing starts on me, I have Muslim friends, grew up with my best friend being Muslim and I do consider most of the Muslims peaceful people. The radicals of the religion frighten me, however, as do radicals of ANY religion. The radical Muslims are not going to sit down across a table and negotiate a thing. They want our blood. And I want to have hope that this world is going to be a better place when my one year old granddaughter is grown. But, I just have an ominous feeling that it won''t be.
We have to do with them what we have to do with the terrorists, since they''re in cahoots!