Rounds Visits Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, tonight returned from a trip to the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, also known as GTMO. The facility houses some of the world’s most dangerous terrorists. Rounds was joined by U.S. Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). During their trip, the delegation toured the Guantanamo Bay base, observed detention operations and met with military commanders stationed at the base.

"As terrorism against America and our allies continues unabated, I was pleased to see for myself the work being done at GTMO to protect our country from those who seek to destroy us,” said Rounds. “The men and women stationed at Guantanamo Bay play an important role in counter-terrorism efforts while making sure the detainees are treated humanely. I have no doubt this is the right place to detain them - now and in the future.”

The Senate Armed Services Committee recently approved legislation suspending for two years international transfers of detainees who have ever been designated as high or medium risk to the United States. There are 122 inmates housed at Guantanamo Bay, which has been open since 2002. The Obama Administration has repeatedly sought to close the facility over strong bipartisan objections by Congress.