Barack Obama · 2009-2017 term
Close Guantanamo Bay detention facility
Obama moved early to close Guantanamo and reduced the detainee population, but the detention facility remained open at the end of his presidency.
Latest reviewed action recorded: Nov 25, 2015
Why this is mixed
Mixed records should not be read as simply positive or negative.
Gains
The prison population fell significantly, but the facility was not closed.
Limits
This promise is not primarily Black-community-specific, but it remains relevant to civil-rights, detention-policy, and executive-power analysis.
Record Note
Research import batch 1. Built from PolitiFact and official archival sources. Source references remain in database/promise_tracker_import_batch_1.json because sources.policy_id is still required.
Original Promise
As president, Barack Obama will close the detention facility at Guantanamo.
Action Timeline
Actions document what the federal government did. Outcomes below describe what changed, and each source list shows where the public record comes from.
Jan 22, 2009
Obama orders Guantanamo closure review
Obama signed executive orders directing a review of detainee policy and setting a one-year goal for closing the detention facility.
Nov 25, 2015
Congress restricts funding for closure steps
Defense authorization language barred the use of funds for several closure pathways, limiting the administration's options.
Outcomes
Outcomes are the part of the record that can contribute to public scoring. They stay visible here with impact direction and linked sources so readers can verify what shaped the record.
Legal Outcome
The administration reduced the detainee population and repeatedly pursued closure, but Guantanamo remained open.
Measured or documented impact: The prison population fell significantly, but the facility was not closed.
Black community impact: This promise is not primarily Black-community-specific, but it remains relevant to civil-rights, detention-policy, and executive-power analysis.
Evidence strength: Strong
Linked sources: 0
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