Obama makes final push to close Guantanamo

Kevin Liptak Laura Koran
By Kevin Liptak and Laura Koran, CNN
4 minute read
Published 4:28 PM EDT, Fri October 23, 2015
A DJ from Radio GTMO, the radio station at the US Navy base on Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, replaces photos of the Obama administration with photos of the Trump administration on Friday, January 27. President Barack Obama signed an executive order on January 22, 2009, to close <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/11/opinion/warren-guantanamo-bay/index.html" target="_blank">the detention facilities</a> at Guantanamo Bay within a year. Eight years later, the prison for terrorism suspects remains open, with 41 detainees as of January 2017. President Donald Trump stated during the 2016 campaign that he would keep the prison facility open.
A DJ from Radio GTMO, the radio station at the US Navy base on Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, replaces photos of the Obama administration with photos of the Trump administration on Friday, January 27. President Barack Obama signed an executive order on January 22, 2009, to close the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay within a year. Eight years later, the prison for terrorism suspects remains open, with 41 detainees as of January 2017. President Donald Trump stated during the 2016 campaign that he would keep the prison facility open.
Michelle Shephard/Toronto Star via Getty Images
The base at Guantanamo Bay has held <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/international/2012/01/11/lkl-verjee-gitmo-10-year-anniversary.cnn">terror suspects since January 2002.</a> Early in the war on terror, the Bush administration argued these detainees were "enemy combatants" who didn't have the protections accorded to prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions. Here, a detainee stands at an interior fence in October 2009.
The base at Guantanamo Bay has held terror suspects since January 2002. Early in the war on terror, the Bush administration argued these detainees were "enemy combatants" who didn't have the protections accorded to prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions. Here, a detainee stands at an interior fence in October 2009.
John Moore/Getty Images/File
A Navy sailor surveys the base in October 2009. In December 2013, Congress <a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/12/26/obama-signs-budget-defense-bills-in-hawaii/" target="_blank">passed a defense-spending bill</a> that makes it easier to transfer detainees out of the facility.
A Navy sailor surveys the base in October 2009. In December 2013, Congress passed a defense-spending bill that makes it easier to transfer detainees out of the facility.
John Moore/Getty Images
US military guards move a detainee inside the detention center in September 2010. At its peak, the detainee population exceeded 750 men.
US military guards move a detainee inside the detention center in September 2010. At its peak, the detainee population exceeded 750 men.
John Moore/Getty Images
A military doctor holds a feeding tube used to feed detainees on a hunger strike in June 2013. In March 2013, the US military announced that dozens of detainees had begun a hunger strike. By that June, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/18/health/guantanamo-hunger-strike/">more than 100 detainees were on a hunger strike,</a> and more than 40 were being force-fed, military officials said.
A military doctor holds a feeding tube used to feed detainees on a hunger strike in June 2013. In March 2013, the US military announced that dozens of detainees had begun a hunger strike. By that June, more than 100 detainees were on a hunger strike, and more than 40 were being force-fed, military officials said.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images/File
Muslim detainees kneel during early morning prayers in October 2009. Cells are marked with an arrow pointing in the direction of Mecca, which is regarded as Islam's holy city.
Muslim detainees kneel during early morning prayers in October 2009. Cells are marked with an arrow pointing in the direction of Mecca, which is regarded as Islam's holy city.
John Moore/Getty Images/File
A soldier stands near the fence line in January 2012.
A soldier stands near the fence line in January 2012.
JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images
A Quran sits among a display of items issued to detainees in September 2010. The suspects are given a prayer mat and a copy of the Muslim holy book as well as a toothbrush, soap, shampoo and clothing.
A Quran sits among a display of items issued to detainees in September 2010. The suspects are given a prayer mat and a copy of the Muslim holy book as well as a toothbrush, soap, shampoo and clothing.
John Moore/Getty Images
A guard walks out of the maximum-security section of the detention center in September 2010.
A guard walks out of the maximum-security section of the detention center in September 2010.
John Moore/Getty Images
A police dog undergoes training exercises in October 2009.
A police dog undergoes training exercises in October 2009.
John Moore/Getty Images
A camp librarian views artwork painted by detainees in September 2010.
A camp librarian views artwork painted by detainees in September 2010.
John Moore/Getty Images
A detainee rubs his face while attending a "life skills" class in April 2009.
A detainee rubs his face while attending a "life skills" class in April 2009.
MICHELLE SHEPHARD/AFP/Getty Images
A seat and shackle await a detainee in the DVD room of a maximum-security detention center in March 2010.
A seat and shackle await a detainee in the DVD room of a maximum-security detention center in March 2010.
John Moore/Getty Images
US Marines join in martial-arts training in September 2010.
US Marines join in martial-arts training in September 2010.
John Moore/Getty Images
Members of the military walk the hallway of Cell Block C in the Camp 5 detention facility in January 2012.
Members of the military walk the hallway of Cell Block C in the Camp 5 detention facility in January 2012.
JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images
Guards move a detainee from his cell in Cell Block A of the Camp 6 detention facility in January 2012.
Guards move a detainee from his cell in Cell Block A of the Camp 6 detention facility in January 2012.
JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images
A detainee waits for lunch in September 2010. The cost of building Guantanamo's high-security detention facilities was reportedly about $54 million.
A detainee waits for lunch in September 2010. The cost of building Guantanamo's high-security detention facilities was reportedly about $54 million.
John Moore/Getty Images
Marines get an early morning workout in October 2009.
Marines get an early morning workout in October 2009.
John Moore/Getty Images
A bus carries military guards from their night shift in September 2010.
A bus carries military guards from their night shift in September 2010.
John Moore/Getty Images
A military guard puts on gloves before moving a detainee in September 2010.
A military guard puts on gloves before moving a detainee in September 2010.
John Moore/Getty Images
Members of the military move down the hallway of Cell Block C in the Camp 5 detention facility in January 2012.
Members of the military move down the hallway of Cell Block C in the Camp 5 detention facility in January 2012.
JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images
A guard holds shackles before preparing to move a detainee in September 2010.
A guard holds shackles before preparing to move a detainee in September 2010.
John Moore/Getty Images
An American flag flies over Camp 6 at Guantanamo in June 2013.
An American flag flies over Camp 6 at Guantanamo in June 2013.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images/File
Inside Guantanamo Bay

Story highlights

Obama hopes to leave office with the prison shuttered, since he campaigned on a vow to close it

Difficulties finding a place to relocate detainees forced the president to abandon his original timeline

Washington CNN  — 

The White House’s decision this week to reject a massive defense policy bill – partly for its restrictions on closing the Guantanamo Bay naval prison in Cuba – comes as the administration makes a final push to close the facility in the remaining 15 months of President Barack Obama’s tenure.