The US House of Representatives on Thursday voted to allow the Obama administration to bring foreign terrorism suspects from the Guantanamo Bay prison to the United States to face trial. The 307 to 114 vote removes one of many roadblocks the administration faces as it tries to empty the internationally condemned prison by January.
The measure, which was included in a $42.8 billion bill that would fund the Homeland Security Department for the current fiscal year, must be passed by the Senate before President Barack Obama can sign it into law. Republicans had argued that allowing suspects to face trial in US courts could create security risks and extend American legal protections to those who do not deserve them. But their attempt to strip the measure from the spending bill failed.
Obama ordered the controversial detention camp closed on his second day in office and gave administration officials a year to do it, but they have run into numerous legal, political and diplomatic hurdles. Not least among those has been Congress, even though Obama's fellow Democrats control both the House and the Senate.
Many lawmakers have objected to administration plans to house terrorism suspects in US prisons, worrying that they could invite further terrorist attacks. Congress has on several occasions denied the administration the money it needs to shut down the facility until it presents a detailed plan. The compromise passed by the House would allow administration officials to bring Guantanamo detainees to US soil only if they are going to face trial in US courts.
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