Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Jim Risch and Mike Crapo issued the following statements in response to President Barack Obama’s plan to close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility and transfer foreign terrorists to the United States:

“Having seen Guantanamo firsthand, I can attest that it is the most suitable place to hold some of the world’s most dangerous terrorists and combatants, as it has for more than a decade,” said Risch.  “It is clear – the American people don’t want to bring these terrorists to our backyard, so much so, that Congress passed bipartisan legislation making it illegal to transfer Guantanamo detainees to American soil and President Obama signed it into law. It is illegal under current law to transfer a foreign terrorist to any facility in the United States, and I will continue to work to keep it that way.”

“Bringing terrorists to U.S. soil is an illegal action.  Having visited the Guantanamo facility, I remain convinced that it is the best option to house those wishing to commit acts of terror upon our nation,” said Crapo.  “Congress has voted multiple times to bar the transfer of dangerous terrorists to our shores.  Yet the President insists on ignoring both Congress and the American people with this proposal.  Moving forward, I will work closely with my colleagues to ensure that Congress asserts its rightful oversight to prevent this plan from being implemented.”

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