ACLU: Congress Must Close Guantanamo Bay Detention Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: media@dcaclu.org
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union continues the fight to close Guantanamo Bay, especially in light of today’s New York Times revelation of the long-term hunger strike that has broken out there.
The following can be attributed to Caroline Fredrickson, Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office:
“This is a prime example of why Guantanamo Bay must close. These people are being held without charge in horrific conditions that violate the traditional American value of due process. The Defense Department admits that only several dozen of the nearly 400 prisoners being detained there will ever face charges. Defense Secretary Robert Gates asked the president to close Guantanamo Bay. And Senator John McCain said, if elected president, he ‘would immediately close Guantanamo Bay, move all prisoners to Fort Leavenworth and truly expedite the judicial proceedings in their cases.’
“The Constitution makes the president subject to the rule of law. Its drafters rejected dungeons and monarchies and chose a system of due process with limited powers. The time has come to shut down Guantanamo. Until that day, detainees must have access to independent judiciary review to insure they are treated humanly and with dignity.”
Stay Informed
Every month, you'll receive regular roundups of the most important civil rights and civil liberties developments. Remember: a well-informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.
By completing this form, I agree to receive occasional emails per the terms of the ACLU’s privacy policy.
The Latest in National Security
-
ACLU Acknowledges Improvements to DOJ Racial Profiling Policy, But Says Far More is Needed
-
ACLU Applauds Court For Allowing Case Challenging FBI’s Wrongful Prosecution of Chinese American Physics Professor To Move Forward
-
Shen v. Simpson
-
Chinese Immigrants Sue Florida Over Unconstitutional and Discriminatory Law Banning Them From Buying Land
ACLU's Vision
The American Civil Liberties Union is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America.
Learn More About National Security

The ACLU’s National Security Project is dedicated to ensuring that U.S. national security policies and practices are consistent with the Constitution, civil liberties, and human rights.