Pax Christi USA Supports Interfaith Call to Close Guantanamo

The 24th anniversary of the Guantánamo Bay detention facility’s opening, January 11, 2026, has prompted a renewed call for its closure from Pax Christi USA and 115 other organizations. The groups are advocating for the facility’s permanent closure, redress for those previously detained, and an end to practices that evade due process and condone torture.

History of the Detention Facility

The Guantánamo Bay detention facility was established in 2002 and has held nearly 800 men over two decades, the majority of whom were Muslim and many never charged with a crime. The facility’s construction followed a pattern of unconstitutional detention of Haitian refugees in the 1990s and was designed to circumvent legal constraints, reportedly facilitating torture during the Bush administration. Fifteen men remain detained, including three who have been cleared for release.

Recent Developments and Concerns

Currently, 15 individuals remain indefinitely detained at Guantánamo. Since February 2025, over 700 immigrants, primarily transported from the United States, have been temporarily detained at the facility. These individuals have faced harsh conditions, including prolonged isolation and denial of legal counsel, and some have been transferred to other countries without adequate assessments of potential risks of torture or persecution. The organizations cite a lack of accountability for past US actions as a contributing factor to these developments.

Demands for Action

The undersigned organizations are calling for several specific actions: the immediate transfer of six men not charged with a crime; the resolution of pending cases through the termination of the military commissions; the permanent closure of Guantánamo without repurposing it; accountability for perpetrators of past US crimes; and redress for those whose human rights have been violated.

A full list of the 115 organizations supporting this statement can be found at www.cvt.org/statements/guantanamo-detention-facility-must-be-closed-a-joint-statement/.