In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, President Bush said his administration was still wresting with the Supreme Court decision.
"We're analyzing the decision and how to move forward, and there's no decision that is imminent on Guantanamo," Bush said. "But, nevertheless, we have an obligation to live under the law, so we are fully analyzing the impact of the law. . . . We'll get it done as quickly as possible."
In remarks to reporters Thursday, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino highlighted the concern that federal courts could release some detainees, setting them free inside the United States.
They could then be held under immigration laws, she said, but under current law such detention could not exceed six months.
Administration officials said that deporting former enemy combatants could take much longer than six months and that additional legislation is needed to prevent such releases.
"There is considered judgment from many federal government lawyers, all the way up to the attorney general of the United States, that it is a very real possibility that a dangerous detainee could be released into the United States as a result of this Supreme Court decision," Perino said.
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julian.barnes@latimes.com
