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TO MEMORIALIZE BOTH THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO REFRAIN FROM LOCATING OR RELOCATING IN SOUTH CAROLINA INDIVIDUALS WHOM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS CLASSIFIED AS "ENEMY COMBATANTS" OR OTHER SIMILAR TERM USED TO DESCRIBE A FOREIGN NATIONAL WHO IS SUSPECTED OF COMMITTING, CONSPIRING TO COMMIT, OR ATTEMPTING TO COMMIT AN ACT OF TERROR ON UNITED STATES SOIL OR ABROAD.
Whereas, President Barack Obama announced on January 21, 2009, that he had instructed United States military prosecutors to suspend all ongoing military tribunals involving enemy combatants and suspected terrorists presently held at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility; and
Whereas, on January 22, 2009, President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order directing the closure of the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility within the year; and
Whereas, the United States military continues to engage and apprehend enemy combatants and suspected terrorists in ongoing combat operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq; and
Whereas, President Barack Obama has thus far failed to announce where enemy combatants and suspected terrorists will be confined following the closure of the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility; and
Whereas, after September 11th, South Carolina has already had to endure the detention of high-level suspected terrorists, including Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri, at the United States Navy Consolidated Brig in Charleston; and
Whereas, it would be manifestly unjust and imprudent to locate or relocate additional enemy combatants or suspected terrorists in areas as densely populated or of such vital national interests as Berkeley and Charleston Counties, South Carolina. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the General Assembly of South Carolina memorializes both the President and Congress of the United States to refrain from locating in South Carolina individuals whom the federal government has classified as "enemy combatants" or other similar term used to describe a foreign national who is suspected of committing, conspiring to commit, or attempting to commit an act of terror on United States soil or abroad.
Be it further resolved that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, and each member of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation.
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