The Kansas Congressional delegation condemned today’s White House refusal to rule out executive action to close Guantanamo Bay and transfer prisoners to the United States. Members of the delegation released the following responses reacting to the White House’s statement:

“President Obama’s apparent contempt for the will of the American people is simply beyond belief,” said Congresswoman Jenkins (R-KS). “Any unilateral executive action would be a clear violation of existing law that prohibits transferring prisoners from Guantanamo to America.  Earlier this year, President Obama indicated he was considering Fort Leavenworth as a location for these prisoners, showing his willingness to totally disregard the impact on military training such a move would have. The President’s attempts for a legacy should not endanger America lives, and I will continue fighting to protect Americans from this disastrous idea.”

“The president’s threat of using an executive order to free jihadists from Guantanamo Bay shows blatant disregard for the safety of our country and the expressed will of the American people.  It is unconscionable,” Congressman Pompeo said.  “Not only would any executive action to bring the world’s most lethal terrorists at Guantanamo Bay to the United States be a direct violation of federal law, but relocating these terrorists to Fort Leavenworth or anywhere else in America poses tremendous threat to our military.  Keeping these terrorists at GITMO is crucial to the safety and security of Kansans and all Americans.  I will continue fighting to do all in my power to see that GITMO detainees stay right where they belong in the U.S. detention at Guantanamo Bay.”

“Any executive action attempting to close the facility at Guantanamo Bay is expressly prohibited by federal law in both the 2015 NDAA and funding bill,” said Congressman Yoder (R-KS). “Unfortunately, this Administration does not seem to feel the same constraints of the law as the rest of us do. I will strongly oppose this effort in every way possible.”

Said Congressman Huelskamp (R-KS): “If President Obama follows through on his threat of using an executive order to close Guantanamo, it would be another outrageous example of how he continues to trample the Constitution and rule of law.” 

“A critical national security decision deserves critical thought,” Sen. Moran (R-KS) said. “The closing of Gitmo shouldn’t happen without Congressional approval and certainly shouldn’t be done through an executive order. The current law should be upheld, which prohibits the closure of Guantanamo Bay and the transfer of detainees.”

“Threatening to shut down Guantanamo Bay by executive action shows President Obama’s blatant disregard for the law,” said Sen. Roberts (R-KS). “Congress has consistently stopped Obama by law from moving a single detainee to the U.S., and this would be an egregious overstep by the administration ignoring the will of the American people to accomplish the president’s legacy goals. An act of Congress would be required to move detainees to the mainland, and I currently have a hold on the president’s nominee for the Secretary of the Army – and I will place holds on any nominee necessary to prevent this unilateral action. I'm confident our current facility at Guantanamo Bay remains the best, and only, answer to house these terrorists. As I have said before – not on my watch will any terrorist be placed in Kansas or anywhere in the homeland.”

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