WASHINGTON — 

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after President Obama announced a plan to close Guantanamo Bay and transfer terrorists to the United States. Under current law, it is illegal to transfer foreign terrorists at Guantanamo to the United States.

“Once again, the president is attempting to move forward without regard for the will of the American people, and he is putting our communities and neighborhoods at risk by doing so. Congress has already rejected bringing these foreign terrorists to American soil in bipartisan legislation, which President Obama signed into law. The president should redirect his focus from an old campaign promise to the larger national security issues facing our nation.”