END GUANTÁNAMO: HUMAN RIGHTS DISASTER

The Guantánamo Bay prison is by all measures a catastrophic failure. It is a global symbol of injustice, abuse, and disregard for the rule of law.

For 21 years, the U.S. military prison at Guantánamo Bay has been a stain on our country. Today, 35 Muslim men remain indefinitely detained there at the astronomical cost of $540 million per year. 23 have never been charged with a crime, and 20 of those prisoners have been cleared for transfer or release, some for years. Many are U.S. torture survivors. All of the men have been exposed to the physical and psychological trauma associated with prolonged indefinite detention. They are also aging rapidly and exhibiting complex medical conditions that staff at Guantánamo are not equipped to manage.

President Biden has the chance to fulfill his campaign pledge to finally close Guantánamo. He can transfer out prisoners who will not be charged with a crime. And he can order government agencies to seek closure in military commission cases, using international and domestic fair trial standards and possible plea bargains.

Guantánamo continues to impose enormous costs to both our values and our resources. It is long past time for this shameful episode in American history to be brought to a close.

Tell President Biden to end indefinite military detention and unconstitutional military commissions at Guantánamo, and shut this national disgrace down once and for all.