Congress votes to ban transfer of Guantanamo Detainees to US

by Fox News | International

The US Congress has voted to to ban the transfer of Guantanamo Bay Detainees to US as President Obama continues to find ways, 6 years after his election promise, to close the centre, in Cuba where terror suspects are being held since the 9/11/2001 attacks that brought down the twin towers of the World Trade Centre.

According to Fox News, Tuesday's Senate's approval was overwhelming in favour of the ban and reflected lasts weeks approval by the House of Representatives which passed it by 370 to 58 against. Senate voted 91 to 3 in favour of the ban.

Other provisions by the bill include that it will:

a) Provide a 1.3% pay increase to service members and a new retirement option for troops. 

b) Authorize lethal assistance to Ukraine forces fighting Russian-backed rebels. 

c) Extend a ban on torture to the CIA and

d) Authorize the president's request of $715 million to help Iraqi forces fight Islamic State militants.

But the main question now is "where will they be transferred to if not the US?"

According to analysts the popularity of the bill, visible by the number of law makers who favoured it, mean that even if the President uses his Veto powers in order to bring about the closure of the prison as he promised, the law makers have the majority to override his veto, and that won't be good.

Which is why Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell is optimistic and looks forward to his signature, saying "We look forward to the president signing the bipartisan bill -- along with its restrictions against bringing terrorists into the United States -- into law."

Read more of that at [ Congress Bans Guantanamo Detainees to US ].