Governor Nikki Haley held a press conference this week stating that she will fight against detainees from Guantanamo Bay being moved to the Naval brig just outside of Charleston.
According to an article in The State Newspaper, the U.S. Defense Department is reviewing a location in Hanahan and a possible location in Kansas to move detainees to, after President Obama promised to close the detention camp. Gauntanamo Bay was created in 2002 as a place to hold prisoners, some of whom are suspected terrorists. President Obama's administration has promised since 2008 to close the camp, and hopes to do so before the President leaves office next year.
The plan to move detainees has seen a lot of opposition. The State reports that, "some lawmakers, including Haley and U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford, a Charleston Republican whose district includes the brig, have said the President’s push to close the detention camp violates a federal law meant to keep the detainees out of the country."
Moving detainees to one of South Carolina's largest cities is not "in the best interest of this country," Haley said in her press conference. She also raised questions about safety for the state she governs, if the transfer is completed. "This is a slap in the face to the people of South Carolina who have sacrificed so much for this country, to turn around and say you're going to put these terrorists in our backyard," Haley said.
Sen. Tim Scott, a Republican U.S. Senator from Charleston, informed Haley of the review of the coastal brig, saying he will fight any executive order from the President to move the detainees, even if that means withholding federal money, Scott said on Thursday, according to The State.
Pentagon officials will visit Hanahan by the month's end to review the site as a possible location for the transfer, according to the Military Times.