Washington D.C. – Today, U.S. Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, denounced a proposal by the incoming Obama Administration to relocate terror suspects in custody at Guantanamo Bay to U.S. military facilities, including United States Marine Corps Camp Pendleton in San Diego.  Hunter also sent a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, indicating his opposition to the proposal.

"Camp Pendleton is a place where we train our Marines and Sailors for combat," said Congressman Hunter.  "It is not a detention facility, nor should it be transformed into one.  Any attempt to accommodate detainees at Camp Pendleton would create an unnecessary distraction for the Marine Corps and interfere with its primary mission, which is to combat terrorism. 

"Redirecting these detainees to Camp Pendleton would also present a serious threat to surrounding military installations and resources, as well as the community’s civilian population.  San Diego is not the place to transfer these terror suspects and experiment with new detention procedures.  Suspected terrorists should continue being held at Guantanamo Bay, where they can be safely contained." 

Hunter, a Marine combat veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, concluded, "In closing Guantanamo Bay, the incoming Administration would be making a serious mistake and I urge it to reconsider."