Sen. Cruz Assails President Obama's Transfer of Guantanamo Bay Detainees

President Obama decided to transfer 15 Guantanamo Bay (GTMO) detainees to the United Arab Emirates. I am calling on the President to work with Congress to strengthen detainee policy and better protect the American people.

With the knowledge that a significant percentage of former Guantanamo Bay detainees return to fight against the United States, it is incomprehensible that the Obama administration would continue its rush to empty GTMO. The President is using his final months in office to burnish his progressive legacy, rather than to prioritize the safety and security of the American people. Radical Islamic terrorists who have killed or sought to kill Americans should not be transferred from U.S. custody – particularly when done behind the backs of American citizens and without the unanimous support of the GTMO task force. President Obama should immediately stand down with his reckless campaign to close GTMO and instead work with Congress to strengthen our detainee policy.

This year, I authored an amendment to the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would prohibit the transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees to foreign countries subject to a State Department issued travel warning. This amendment was successfully adopted by the Senate Armed Services Committee. As the bill moves forward in conference, I will continue to fight for the inclusion of this provision in the final NDAA.