Following the September 11 attacks in 2001 , the United States launched a " Global War on Terror " . In November 2001 , President Bush asserted authority to try captives from the War before " military commissions " instead of through the civilian court system . Many captives from the war were held at Camp X-Ray , which was opened at the United States ' Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba in January 2002 . While the United States has an indefinite lease on Guantanamo Bay , Cuba still maintained '' de jure '' sovereignty over the area . Because of the mixed jurisdiction , the Bush administration stated that the captives are not subject to American law and have no right to protection under the United States Constitution nor the American justice system
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Boumediene v. Bush