US Senate gears up for debate on future of Guantanamo Bay prison
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate gears up for a crucial debate on the annual National Defense Authorization Act, known as the NDAA.
Among the hotly contested topics in the debate will be the future of Guantanamo Bay, the notorious U.S. military prison.
The prison was established during the War on Terror in 2002 within the Naval Base, on the coast of Guantánamo Bay in Cuba. Many lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have argued that the facility is necessary, while others have demanded its closure.
President Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, signed an executive order keeping the facility open indefinitely.
The NDAA is likely to include language prohibiting the use of funds to close Guantanamo Bay.
The Biden administration opposes this, but it is unclear if they will be able to overcome the opposition in Congress.
The cost of maintaining Guantanamo Bay is estimated to be $540 million per year. The facility has been criticized for its use of torture and other forms of abuse. The closure of Guantanamo Bay would be a major step towards upholding human rights and the rule of law.
According to a New York Times estimate from last year, Guantanamo Bay currently holds 30 detainees, and over the past two decades.
Nine individuals have died while in custody, while 741 others have been transferred out of the facility.
Guantanamo Bay has been mired in extensive litigation over the years. In 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that detainees were entitled to minimal protections under the Geneva Conventions.
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