Texas Senate Bill SCR21

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Introduced: 2/18/09
• Refer: 3/13/09

Caption

Urging the Texas congressional delegation to take action to prohibit the use of federal funds to transfer enemy combatants detained at Guantanamo Bay to any facility in Texas or to build or modify facilities for any such enemy combatants in the state.

Impact

The bill underscores the state's commitment to ensuring the safety of its citizens and reflects a broader concern among state lawmakers regarding the risks associated with potential re-engagement in terrorist activities by released individuals. The resolution articulates the need for federal funds to be prohibited from facilitating such transfers, thereby reinforcing the principle of state sovereignty in matters concerning public safety.

Summary

SCR21 is a concurrent resolution urging the Texas congressional delegation to take action against the transfer of enemy combatants detained at Guantanamo Bay to facilities within Texas. The resolution stems from an executive order signed by President Obama on January 22, 2009, which directed the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facilities. As the federal government considered potential relocation sites, concerns emerged regarding the safety and security implications of bringing individuals deemed as potential terrorist threats into Texas communities.

Contention

One notable point of contention is the fear of re-engagement in terrorism among those who would be transferred. The Department of Defense has highlighted a significant re-engagement rate among former detainees, raising alarms about the potential for these individuals to threaten Texas residents. Proponents of SCR21 argue that bringing enemy combatants to Texas entirely contradicts the government's primary responsibility to protect its citizens, while opponents may raise issues about civil liberties and the broader implications of such resolutions on federal-state relations.