US: Guantanamo Closing Will Not Risk Safety of Americans
By VOA News
07 May 2009
The U.S. attorney general said the United States will not put the safety of Americans at risk with the transfer of any detainee from the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Eric Holder assured a Senate subcommittee Thursday the U.S. will not release any terrorists into the United States. He said safety is a "paramount" consideration as the United States prepares to close the facility and move its 241 prisoners.
Lawmakers expressed concern that the federal government may move suspected terrorists to U.S. prisons and not consult local and state officials.
Holder said the Justice Department has not decided where to send all the detainees and vowed to work in partnership with state and local authorities "to make sure surprises do not occur."
Holder said the government is still reviewing individual cases and expects the U.S. will begin transferring detainees "in the next few months."
Holder said the United States is still working to convince other countries to accept some of the prisoners.
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