• Submitted by: Juana
• Guantánamo
• United States
• Politics and Government
• 07 / 23 / 2015

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The White House is in the "final stages" of a plan to present to US Congress which would close "safe and responsibly" the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, said spokesman Josh Earnest.
"It's a tough job, but we have made many important advances," Earnest said.
"It is a priority of the President. He believes that is part of our clear national security interests close the prison at Guantanamo Bay," he added.
The initiative of President Barack Obama to close the prison was blocked on several occasions by members of Congress. After taking position in January 2009, Obama ordered the closure of the prison where about 800 suspected terrorists captured abroad and held by the United States since 2002 were detained.
The process was hampered by the lack of places to send the prisoners, along with the actions of Congress to block the transfer of suspects to US civilian courts or transfer to prisons in US territory.
Hundreds have been released and handed over to their governments or third countries. Until June, 116 men were in the detention center.

source: www.cibercuba.com