Trump to keep open detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 — U.S. President Donald Trump said in his
first State of the Union address on Tuesday that he had signed an order to
reexamine the U.S. military detention policy and to keep open the detention
facilities at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

“In the past, we have foolishly released hundreds and hundreds of dangerous
terrorists, only to meet them again on the battlefield — including the
ISIS leader, al-Baghdadi, who we had, who we released,” Trump said. “So
today, I am keeping another promise,” he said. “When possible, we
annihilate them. When necessary, we must be able to detain and question
them. But we must be clear: Terrorists are not merely criminals. They are
unlawful enemy combatants. And when captured overseas, they should be
treated like the terrorists they are,” he said. “In many cases, for them,
it will now be Guantanamo,” Trump said.

Only 41 detainees now remain in the facility, set up in 2002 as part of the
U.S. war on terror. Critics say the center has been plagued by crimes of
torture. Hundreds of detainees were transferred to sites in the United
States or sent to their home countries under President Barack Obama, who
failed to close the prison center. Last year, Trump said he would consider
sending terror suspects who allegedly committed crimes on U.S. soil to the
military prison. Earlier this month, dozens of activists held a rally
outside the White House to protest against the Guantanamo Bay prison,
urging an end to “indefinite detention.” – XINHUA