Scott Statement on Report that Increased Number of Released Gitmo Detainees Returning to Terrorism

Washington – U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) released the following statement in regards to the Obama Administration’s report this week that an increased number of former detainees at Guantanamo Bay are returning to terrorism.

“As the Obama Administration has now released a report showing a sharp increase in the number of former Guantanamo detainees returning to terrorism, doubling over six months at the end of last year, the President must walk back his dangerous plan to empty out Guantanamo Bay. With a recidivism rate already at 30 percent, we cannot afford that number to continue to climb higher.

Guantanamo holds the worst of the worst, and that’s where these dangerous terrorists should stay. The President’s effort to transfer as many detainees as possible out of Guantanamo before removing the remaining terrorists to domestic soil is misguided and reckless.I will continue to use every tool at my disposal to stop it.”

The report released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence this week showed seven new reports of former detainees confirmed or suspected of rejoining terrorist organizations between mid-July 2015 and January of 2016.