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Understanding Guantánamo Bay: The Expenses, the Detainees, and Its Ongoing Existence

Guantánamo Bay: A Legacy of Controversy as Prison Enters 24th Year with 15 Detainees Remaining

As Guantánamo Bay enters its 24th year, the Pentagon’s controversial detention facility, once home to hundreds captured in the war on terror, now holds just 15 prisoners. The prison’s inception can be traced back to President George W. Bush, who initiated its operations; efforts by Presidents Obama, Trump, and Biden to close it have been thwarted by congressional restrictions that prevent the transfer of detainees to the U.S.

The remaining detainees, aged 45 to 63, hail from various countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, and Yemen, with the majority held since their transfer from the CIA’s secret overseas prisons. Among these individuals are five defendants in the lengthy 9/11 case, including Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, and others accused of significant terrorist activities. The prison has never housed female detainees or U.S. citizens.

Current legislation restricts any hope of closure, with Congress annually enacting measures against transferring detainees. The Obama administration had determined that the closure of Guantánamo would require retaining some detainees at similar facilities in the U.S. Meanwhile, the health of the remaining prisoners is deteriorating due to long-term solitary confinement and torture experienced in CIA black sites, adding urgency to calls for reform.

Financially, running the facility is expensive—previous estimates suggested it costs over $13 million per year for each detainee, impacting the military budget significantly. Still, with only 15 prisoners remaining, this number is poised to increase in the coming years.

As part of ongoing legal negotiations, three detainees are in talks for release, contingent on resettlement arrangements. The standoff at Guantánamo Bay remains emblematic of the complexities surrounding national security and the legal ramifications of lifelong detention without trial.

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Photo credit www.nytimes.com

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