Detention center: Keeping it open wastes money

All eyes are on COVID-19. The US government has thrown over $6 trillion at the deadly virus, and the number will only continue to grow.

But a deadly virus isn’t the only place the government is throwing money.

Guantanamo Bay detention center, opened in 2001 to house detainees in the war on terrorism, continues to operate in Cuba at a cost of $13 million per prisoner per year.

Many of these prisoners have been held for over a decade awaiting a fair trial. This only breaks constitutional law and takes away people’s lives, but also eats up millions in taxpayer money.

As the US struggles to regain its economy, the government should consider and reassess the costs and health risks of detention facilities like Guantanamo Bay.

Please contact Washington Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray to take action to stop unjust treatment of prisoners and redirect expenses to prioritize Americans facing a global crisis..

This story was originally published June 30, 2020 at 7:59 PM with the headline "Detention center: Keeping it open wastes money."