war on terror. the first convoy of detainees departed in route to guantanamo bay, cuba. a stain on the united states human rights record and shutting down the facility has proven to be challenging or just the least challenging of several difficult options. just how to go forward remains the source of a fierce ongoing debate. the detention center at guantanamo bay, cuba has been a source of controversy since it opened. terrorists who once occupied afghanistan now occupy cells at guantanamo bay. opponent say the prison represents the excesses of the war on terror. a facility outside the normal judicial system. indefinite detention. accounts of torture, and a massive cost. a 2019 new york times report found the u.s. spent more than a half billion dollars the previous year to operate the prison and court system there. at its peak, guantanamo bay held nearly 700 detainees. guantanamo bay will be closed no later than one year from now.