The Department of Defense announced today that it transferred 11 detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to Afghanistan for release.  This transfer increases the number of detainees who’ve left Guantanamo Bay to 202. 

            The decision to transfer or release a detainee is based on many factors, including whether the detainee is of further intelligence value to the United States and whether the detainee is believed to pose a threat to the United States if released.   

            There are ongoing processes to review the status of detainees. A determination about the continued detention or transfer of a detainee is based on the best information and evidence available at the time.  The circumstances in which detainees are apprehended can be ambiguous, and many of them are highly skilled in concealing the truth.

            During the course of the war on terrorism, the department expects that there will be other transfers or releases of detainees. 

            Because of operational and security considerations, no further details can be provided.

Previously, 191 detainees have departed Guantanamo Bay - 135 for release, and 56 transferred to the control of other governments (29 to Pakistan, five to Morocco, four to France, seven to Russia, four to Saudi Arabia, one to Spain, one to Sweden and five to Great Britain). Two hundred and two detainees have now departed Guantanamo.  As a result of today’s transfer, there are now approximately 539 detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.