Haley, Brownback Pledge Any Action Within Their Power To Stop Terrorist Transfers

“We Will Not Be Part Of Any Illegal Action By This Administration”

COLUMBIA, SC – Governor Nikki Haley and Governor Sam Brownback of Kansas signed a letter to Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter strongly opposing the transfer of terrorists held at Guantanamo Bay to either South Carolina or Kansas.

In a letter to Secretary Carter, Governor Haley and Governor Brownback said, “We will not be part of any illegal and ill-advised action by this Administration, especially when that action relates to importing terrorists into our states.  Please know that we will take any action within our power to make sure no Guantanamo Bay detainees are transferred to South Carolina or Kansas.”

A copy of the governors’ letter is available here.

Last week, during a Statehouse news conference, the governor said, “It is extremely concerning that we are now getting word that they are looking at us and one other state to move terrorists from Guantanamo Bay. Let’s be very, very clear, this is a violation of federal law…We are absolutely drawing a line that we are not going to allow any terrorists to come into South Carolina.”

Gov. Haley continued, “My job is to protect the people of this state, and I take that very personally. I will take that very personally the entire way so that the President, and Congress, and anyone involved in this decision understands that they are not wanted, they are not needed, and we will not accept them in South Carolina.”