The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Congressional Hearing on Guantanamo Bay Detainee Releases
Record date · January 1, 2016
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Does
The House Committee on Foreign Affairs held a hearing on July 7, 2016, to question Obama administration officials regarding the process and risks associated with transferring detainees from the Guantanamo Bay facility to foreign countries. Committee members challenged the accuracy of previous testimony provided by Department of State and Department of Defense officials concerning the vetting and monitoring of released individuals.
This hearing addresses the federal government's oversight and security protocols for releasing detainees, which impacts national security policy and the diplomatic agreements used to manage former prisoners.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
U.S. Department of State
Responsible for negotiating detainee transfer agreements and monitoring released individuals.
U.S. Department of Defense
Responsible for the detention facility and providing assessments on detainee risk levels.
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Conducts oversight of the administration's foreign policy and detention transfer processes.
Key Facts
- The hearing took place on July 7, 2016, before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- The committee investigated the administration's process for transferring detainees to foreign countries.
- Chairman Royce alleged that previous testimony from officials regarding the ability of receiving countries to mitigate recidivism was inconsistent with intelligence reports.
- The Washington Post reported that at least 12 released detainees have attacked U.S. or allied forces, resulting in approximately six American deaths.
Show all 7 facts
- The Secretary of State holds the primary responsibility for negotiating transfer agreements and monitoring conditions.
- The committee requested information on the 'return to terrorism' rate for released individuals.
- The hearing included testimony from Lee Wolosky (State Department) and Paul M. Lewis (Department of Defense).
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the primary purpose of this hearing?
What concerns did the Committee raise about released detainees?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceFull breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Oversight Tension
The document highlights a significant breakdown in communication between the executive branch and the legislative committee regarding the vetting of foreign countries for detainee transfers.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance80How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy85Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment40Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools