US President Barack Obama signed [4] the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013 (PDF [5]) into law on Jan. 3. The bill, which authorizes appropriations for military activities for 2013, expressly prohibits using funds to transfer individuals detained at Guantánamo Bay and also prohibits using funds to construct facilities in the US intended to house Guantánamo detainees. Obama signed the NDAA despite earlier indications that he may veto (statement, PDF [6]) the bill, in part because of concerns over the Guantánamo detainee restrictions [7]. Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union [8] (ACLU), has criticized [9] Obama for signing the bill, stating that he has "utterly failed the first test of his second term" by effectively ensuring that indefinite detention will continue and jeopardizing his ability to keep his promise of closing the military prison.
From Jurist [10], Jan. 3. used with permission.
