Washington, D.C.-Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Guantanamo Bay Recidivism Prevention Act of 2015, legislation that would improve the monitoring of former Guantanamo Bay detainees transferred to foreign countries.

"President Obama seems to have little concern for what happens after a detainee leaves Guantanamo Bay. But these detainees are hardened terrorists and their release puts U.S. lives and our national-security interests at risk. The numbers don't lie: almost one in three detainees released from Guantanamo Bay are confirmed or suspected of returning to the fight. Most recently, we've seen reports of former detainees joining forces with the Islamic State," said Cotton. "This is unacceptable. Our troops fought and captured these terrorists once; they should never have to do it again. Until President Obama stops releasing Guantanamo Bay detainees, Congress must do everything in its power to stop recidivism."

Background: The Guantanamo Bay Recidivism Prevention Act of 2015 seeks to prevent recidivism by encouraging foreign countries to properly monitor former detainees. Specifically, it prohibits foreign assistance provided under the Foreign Assistance Act or Arms Export Control Act if a country:

  • Received an detainee from the Detention Facility at Guantanamo Bay on or after February 1, 2015, and
  • Subsequently appeared on the administration's detainee recidivist report (as defined by Section 319 of Public Law 111 - 32)

Senators Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), David Vitter (R-Louisiana), and James Lankford (R-Oklahoma) are all original co-sponsors of the Guantanamo Bay Recidivism Prevention Act of 2015.