Where Does John Hall Stand on Keeping Terrorists Out of New York?

Under Obama’s Terrorist Importation Executive Order, Gitmo Detainees Could be Relocated to the United States

Washington- One of President Obama’s first executive orders was to close down the detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba within a year, but with that order came no details about exactly what he would do with the terrorists who are held there. In the absence of a real plan to protect Americans, the terrorists could be relocated to penitentiaries around the United States, potentially ending up in New York.

“President Obama's decision to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba, one of his first acts after taking office, is putting fellow Democrats on the political hot seat as word spreads that terrorism suspects and other detainees would be relocated to the U.S. or transferred to domestic prisons… States and municipalities around the country are saying ‘not in my backyard,’ and Republicans are raising the prospect of relocated detainees putting Americans in danger.” (Janet Hook, “Democrats face hard time over Guantanamo,” LA Times, May 7, 2009)

But even some of John Hall' fellow Democrats are troubled by Obama’s insistence to close Gitmo without any real plan in place on what to do with the detainees:

“‘They say, “We’re going to close Guantanamo.” OK, fine. How are you going to do that? That’s the question,’ Rep. Neal Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) told POLITICO Thursday. ‘They should have had that worked out from the get-go.’... Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said he believed there were prisons in the United States that could handle the Guantanamo detainees, but it’s becoming clear that many states and localities want nothing to do with the terrorist suspects.... On Thursday, House Republicans introduced a bill seeking to make it impossible for Obama to release detainees into the homeland without pre-approval from Congress and individual states.” (Alex Isenstadt, “Democrats see lack of planning on Guantanamo Bay,” Politico, May 8, 2009)

Now that the Keep Terrorists Out of America Act has been introduced into Congress, John Hall has a real opportunity to protect the families in his district, but where does he stand?

“John Hall has the explicit duty to stand up and protect his constituents in the wake of Gitmo’s closing, which could allow dangerous terrorists to be imported to places like New York,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “Will John Hall defend the safety of the families in his district and stand up against this dangerous proposal or will he leave the security of American lives in the balance?”

If Rep. John Hall supports this bill, he can stop these terrorists from being imported into his constituents’ backyard. But will he have the resolve to stand up to the president? Or will he stay silent in hopes of avoiding the repercussions by allowing the terrorists to be relocated to places like New York?