Guantánamo: 86 men cleared for release, still detained

Update: “Guantanamo by the numbers.” ACLU, May 2018

Dear President Obama,

Executive Order: Review and Disposition of Individuals at the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base and Closure of Detention Facilities
(Signed January 22, 2009)

Sec. 3. Closure of Detention Facilities of Guantánamo
The detention facilities at Guantánamo for individuals covered by this order shall be closed as soon as practicable, no later than 1 year from the date of this order. [No later than January 22, 2010]

If any individuals covered by this order remain on detention at Guantánamo at the time of closure of those detention facilities, they shall be returned to their home country, released, transferred to a third country or transferred to another United States detention facility in a manner consistent with law and the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States.

More than 4 years later, the people detained at Guantánamo are still waiting. Most Americans are waiting. I’m waiting. We all, including you, value justice and the honor of a promise.

Without delay, please transfer the 86 men cleared for release. Appoint a White House official responsible for carrying out your Executive Order as soon as possible to close the detention facilities at Guantánamo Bay Naval Base.

From AVAAZ.org, the World in Action:
• Detainees in Guantanamo now: 166
• Detainees facing active charges: 6
• Detainees cleared for immediate release, but stuck in the camp: 86
• Guantanamo inmates on hunger strike: 103
• Hunger strikers strapped down and force-fed: 30
• Prisoners who have died in custody: 9
• Children the U.S.has held at Guantanamo: 21
• Detainees tried in civilian court: 1
• “Unreleasable” detainees who can’t be tried for lack of evidence or torture: 50
• Prisoners released by the Bush administration: 500+
• Prisoners released by the Obama administration: 72
• Current annual cost to US taxpayers: $150 million
• Days since Obama first pledged to close Gitmo: 1,579
• Time since first prisoners arrived at Guantanamo:
11 years, 4 months, 11 days