HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST for HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST

Civil Rights/Civil Liberties CIV

Closure of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. H.R.1735: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016. Subtitle D-Counterterrorism: Sec. 1031. Prohibition on use of funds to construct or modify facilities in the United States to house detainees transferred from United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Sec. 1032. Limitation on the transfer or release of individuals detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Sec. 1033. Reenactment and modification of certain prior requirements for certifications relating to transfer of detainees at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to foreign countries and other foreign entities. Sec. 1034. Authority to temporarily transfer individuals detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the United States for emergency or critical medical treatment. Sec. 1035. Prohibition on use of funds for transfer or release to Yemen of individuals detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Sec. 1036. Report on current detainees at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, determined or assessed to be high risk or medium risk. Sec. 1037. Report to Congress on memoranda of understanding with foreign countries regarding transfer of detainees at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Sec. 1038. Semiannual reports on use of United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and any other Department of Defense or Bureau of Prisons prison or other detention or disciplinary facility in recruitment and other propaganda of terrorist organizations. Sec. 1039. Extension and modification of authority to make rewards for combating terrorism. Sec. 1040. Reaffirmation of the prohibition on torture. Joint Resolution (as proposed by President Obama): To authorize the limited use of the United States Armed Forces against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Lobbied to support 3-year ISIL AUMF sunset and 2002 Iraq AUMF repeal. Lobbied for narrower definition of associated persons or forces, clear mission objectives, more stringent reporting requirements, geographical limitations, a compliance requirement with international law, and clarification that it supersedes any existing authority to use force against ISIL, and to add sunset provision to 2001 AUMF.

Contacted: Executive Office of the President (EOP); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); SENATE; State, Dept of (DOS); U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Defense, Dept of (DOD)

Bills named: H.R. 1735 (114th)

Immigration IMM

Reforming the U.S. immigration detention system, including efforts to end detention of families, discontinue use of jails and jail-like facilities, improve custody/release procedures, expand alternatives to detention, increase access to counsel, and eliminate the detention bed mandate. Reforming the current asylum system related to detention, the one year filing deadline, credible fear process, expedited removal process, terrorism-related grounds of inadmissibility, and general protections for asylum seekers. Increased protections for Syrian refugees.

Contacted: Defense, Dept of (DOD); State, Dept of (DOS); SENATE; U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Foreign Relations FOR

U.S. leadership in advancing human rights protections in global efforts to counter violent extremism.

Contacted: Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Executive Office of the President (EOP); SENATE; Defense, Dept of (DOD); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE); State, Dept of (DOS)