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Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC05) today voiced opposition to the Obama administration’s plans to transfer Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, along with his co-conspirators from Guantanamo to the U.S.  The Obama administration announced that it will move the accused terrorists to New York City for trial in a civilian court.

“Moving these terrorists to the U.S. provides these war criminals all the constitutional rights of American citizens,” Foxx said. “This is a bad precedent that risks self-proclaimed terrorists making a mockery of the constitutional rights they will be given.   

On January 22, 2009, President Obama signed an executive order to close the Guantanamo Bay prison within a year.  The decision to try some terrorist detainees from Guantanamo in civilian courts has raised questions about the ramifications of such a move.

“The FBI Director has warned that importing these terrorists will give them opportunities to radicalize others and operate cells inside American prisons.  The secure and well-tested military tribunal process is a better alternative to sending these terrorists to a U.S. courtroom.

“Plus, a civilian court trial may result in sensitive intelligence information falling into the wrong hands or may even lead to a terrorist-detainee being released inside the U.S. because of some obscure legal technicality.”

Foxx is also a co-sponsor of H.R. 2294, a bill that gives governors and state legislatures the right to refuse the transfer of dangerous terrorists from the Guantanamo Bay prison to facilities in the U.S.  Under this legislation, New York governor David Paterson (D), who has criticized the Obama administration’s decision, would be able to halt the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to New York City.