The president suggested 30,000 migrants could be housed on the base. It is unclear how the plan will take shape.

The new administration does not yet have a confirmed defense secretary, attorney general or solicitor general in place.

In exchange, the Biden administration released an Afghan man convicted on narcotics charges in 2008.

The Iraqi prisoner had sued the Biden administration, saying he would be at risk for abuse at a prison in his homeland.

A three-judge appeals panel will decide whether the plea deal Khalid Shaikh Mohammed reached to avoid a death-penalty trial remains valid.

Justice Department lawyers are defending the defense secretary’s decision to back out of the agreement that avoided a death penalty trial, moving the question from military to civilian courts.

The secret mission left the smallest number of prisoners at Guantánamo Bay since the day the detention center opened in 2002.

A court filing said the prisoner was at risk for abuse and might not be able to get adequate health care if transferred.

A judge cited winter weather and a federal holiday for Jimmy Carter’s funeral as reasons for the delay. Government lawyers may also try again to overturn the plea deal.

The three-judge decision appeared, at least for now, to put plea proceedings for Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and two others back on track to take place in early January at Guantánamo Bay.