A Virginia Congressman wants President Obama to declassify and release publicly all information about a group of Chinese Uyghurs who have been held at the Guantanamo Bay detention center for more than seven years, but who may be released soon and allowed into the U.S.
In a letter dated Friday, U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) wrote of "grave concerns" he had about the possible release of the Uyghurs, who were detained after being captured in an Afghan training camp. Last fall, an appeals court blocked a lower court order that would have prompted the men's release and admission to into America.
While the administration has made no formal decision, news reports indicate some of the 17 Uyghurs who have been in Guantanamo could be sent to America, perhaps to Virginia suburbs that have a Uyghur community. Before that happens, Wolf wrote, the public deserves a full accounting of the men's background:
In a letter dated Friday, U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) wrote of "grave concerns" he had about the possible release of the Uyghurs, who were detained after being captured in an Afghan training camp. Last fall, an appeals court blocked a lower court order that would have prompted the men's release and admission to into America.
While the administration has made no formal decision, news reports indicate some of the 17 Uyghurs who have been in Guantanamo could be sent to America, perhaps to Virginia suburbs that have a Uyghur community. Before that happens, Wolf wrote, the public deserves a full accounting of the men's background:
"Information I have received indicates that the Uyghurs may be more dangerous than the public has been led to believe. I write today asking that you declassify all intelligence regarding their capture, detention, and your administration's assessment of the threat they may post to Americans, prior to any decision to release them. The American people deserve to have all the facts about these individuals before they should be expected to tolerate their presence in our communities."Wolf also wants the Administration to explain how it will monitor the Uyghurs once they were released, something he called a "moral obligation" for the Administration:
"The American people cannot afford to simply take your word that these detainees, who were captured training in terrorist camps, are not a threat if released into our communities."See Wolf's letter to the President here.
Source: IPT News
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