Detainee Transfer Announced

The Department of Defense announced today the transfer of two detainees from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the government of Germany.

As directed by the President’s Jan. 22, 2009 executive order, the interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force conducted a comprehensive review of these cases.  As a result of that review, which examined a number of factors, including security issues, the two detainees were approved for transfer by unanimous consent among all the agencies involved in the task force.  In accordance with Congressionally-mandated reporting requirements, the administration informed Congress of its intent to transfer these individuals at least 15 days before their transfer.

The two detainees were transferred to the government of Germany for resettlement in the states of Hamburg and Rheinland-Pfalz.  Their identities are being withheld at the request of the German government for privacy reasons.  The United States is grateful to the government of Germany for its willingness to support U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.  The United States coordinated with the government of Germany to ensure the transfer took place under appropriate security measures.

Since 2002, more than 600 detainees have departed Guantanamo Bay for other destinations, including Albania, Algeria, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Belgium, Bermuda, Cape Verde, Chad, Denmark, Egypt, Georgia, France, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Pakistan, Palau, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Somalia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom and Yemen.

Today, 174 detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay.