United States Transfers Guantanamo Bay Detainee
to Spain

The Department of Justice today announced that a detainee from the Palestinian territories has been transferred from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to Spain.

As directed by the President’s January 22, 2009 Executive Order, the interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force conducted a comprehensive review of this case. As a result of that review, which examined a number of factors, including security issues, the detainee was 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 detainee at least 15 days before his transfer.

The identity of the individual is being withheld for security and privacy reasons at the request of the Government of Spain. The United States is grateful to the Government of Spain for its willingness to support U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. This transfer was carried out under an individual arrangement between the United States and the Government of Spain. The United States coordinated with the Government of Spain to ensure the transfer took place under appropriate security measures and consultations regarding this individual will continue.

Since 2002, more than 580 detainees have departed Guantanamo Bay for other destinations, including Albania, Algeria, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Belgium, Bermuda, Chad, Denmark, Egypt, 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, 188 detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay.