On January 22, 2009, two days after President Barack Obama took office, he issued Executive Orders 13491, 13492 and 13493, all of which concerned how the United States should treat its captives.
According to the Associated Press and Reuters Admiral Copeman ordered the lists of captives who had been cleared for release to be posted to prevent the spread of rumors.
Six captives left Guantanamo on January 17, 2009, four days before Barack Obama took office.
As of September 29, 2009 17 captives have been released, transferred or repatriated sing Barack Obama took office and reversed some policies of the George W. Bush Presidency.
Some of these men were released, after a habeas corpus petition ruled that the USA was holding them illegally.