Gitmo Decision to Cost Americans in Safety and Security

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today issued the following statement regarding the Obama Administration’s FY 2011 Budget request:

“The President’s FY 2011 budget allocates more than $400 million to close the terrorist detention facility at Guantanamo Bay: $350 million for detainee operations-including $237 million to purchase the Thomson prison in Illinois; and $73 million for the transfer, incarceration and prosecution of detainees. But these numbers do not even scratch the surface of the total cost to American taxpayers for the President’s ill-advised campaign promise to try terrorists in the U.S. 

“The prosecution of the 9-11 conspirators will take years and the cost of the actual trial-including security, transportation and detention-will far exceed the funds in the FY 2011 budget.   The real cost will be to the safety and security of Americans who will be endangered by the decision to close Gitmo and transfer terrorists to the U.S.

“All of this additional spending is unnecessary when the Administration could treat terrorists as enemies of our country and try them in military commissions at Guantanamo Bay.  Gitmo is a bought and paid for facility that can be run at a low cost and with guaranteed security for the American people. It also ensures that terrorists will not be brought to the U.S. where they will be able to use the rights afforded to criminal defendants to obtain lighter sentences and broadcast their terrorist agenda from center stage. 

“Trying to close Gitmo has not made America safer.  There were more attempted terrorist attacks in 2009 than in any year since 9-11. We should be spending money on efforts to deter terrorists, not paying for lawyers to defend them.”