Barhoumi was cleared for switch in August 2016, however had continued to be held in Guantanamo whereas he waited for the US authorities to discover a prepared third-party nation to repatriate him to, as the federal government does with all Guantanamo detainees who’re cleared for switch.
Barhoumi was detained at Guantanamo practically 20 years in the past, in response to the Center for Constitutional Rights.
“On August 9, 2016, the Periodic Review Board course of decided that legislation of warfare detention of Mr. Barhoumi was now not mandatory to guard in opposition to a unbroken vital risk to the nationwide safety of the United States. Therefore, the PRB beneficial that Mr. Barhoumi be repatriated to his native nation of Algeria, topic to safety and humane therapy assurances,” the Defense Department mentioned within the announcement.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin knowledgeable Congress in February of the division’s intent to repatriate Barhoumi, the discharge mentioned.
“Our authorities owes Sufyian and his mom years of their lives again,” Sufiyan’s legal professional, Shayana Kadidal of the Center for Constitutional Rights, mentioned in an announcement. “I’m overjoyed that he will probably be house together with his household, however I’ll dearly miss his fixed good humor and empathy for the struggling of others within the totally miserable setting of Guantánamo.”
Barhoumi is the third Guantanamo detainee to be repatriated below the Biden administration.
Mohammed al-Qahtani’s repatriation to Saudi Arabia for psychological well being therapy was introduced by the Defense Department in March. Abdul Latif Nasir’s repatriation to his native nation of Morocco was introduced in July 2021.
Both Barhoumi and Nasir have been cleared for switch through the Obama administration. Al-Qahtanini was cleared for switch through the Biden administration.
President Joe Biden has mentioned he needs to shut the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. With Barhoumi’s switch, 37 detainees stay on the jail, 18 of whom are cleared for switch.