Dear Friends,

With the transfer of Assadullah Haroon Gul from the prison at Guantanamo this June, thirty-six men still remain imprisoned there. Nineteen of these men have already been approved for transfer from Guantanamo. 

The U.S. House of Representatives will soon be voting on amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act. While President Biden and the military commissions continue to make progress with plea bargains and other legal strategies to transfer the remaining detainees out of Guantanamo, there is a growing and urgent need to provide health care to these aging men that cannot be provided in the prison. Most are survivors of brutal torture.

NRCAT is working with human rights partners to ensure that the House and Senate versions of the NDAA remove all restrictions on transferring Guantanamo detainees to the U.S. for any reason, including for trial or for necessary medical treatment. 

As the House Rules Committee considers the NDAA for the floor of the House in the coming days, we urge you to call House Speaker Pelosi’s office (202-225-4965) and Majority Leader Hoyer’s office (202-225-4131) and ask them to oppose introducing all amendments on the floor of the House that would place restrictions on transfers from Guantanamo. Here’s a sample script you can use:

"Hello, I’m _______ from ___________. I’m calling to urge Speaker Pelosi/Majority Leader Hoyer to support President Biden’s plan to close the prison at Guantanamo and to oppose any amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act that would impose restrictions on transferring detainees out of Guantanamo."

Thank you for helping to close Guantanamo.

Sincerely,

Rev. Ron Stief
Executive Director