Detainee Transfers Announced
May 04, 2010

The Department of Defense announced today that two detainees were transferred yesterday from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, one each, to the custody and control of the governments of Bulgaria and Spain.

As directed by the President’s January 22, 2009, executive order, the interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force conducted a comprehensive review of these cases. As a result of that review, which examined a number of factors, including security issues, the detainees were approved for transfer by unanimous consent among all the agencies involved in the task force. In accordance with Congressionally-mandated reporting requirements, the administration informed Congress of its intent to transfer the detainees at least 15 days before their transfer.

The identities of the individuals are being withheld for security and privacy reasons at the request of the governments of Bulgaria and Spain. The United States is very grateful to the governments of Bulgaria and Spain for their willingness to support U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. The United States coordinated with the governments of Bulgaria and Spain to ensure the transfers took place under appropriate security measures, and consultations regarding these individuals will continue.

Since 2002, more than 590 detainees have departed Guantanamo Bay for other destinations, including Albania, Algeria, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Belgium, Bermuda, Chad, Denmark, Egypt, Georgia, France, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Pakistan, Palau, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Somalia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom and Yemen.

Today, 181 detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay.