U.S President, Donald Trump signed an executive order to keep the detention centre open at

According to reports,  the executive order retains the U.S. right to move new detainees to the facility if warranted, but there are no plans to do so, according to a State Department official.

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Trump said "I am asking Congress to ensure that in the fight against ISIS and al Qaeda we continue to have all necessary power to detain terrorists wherever we chase them down, wherever we find them. And In many cases for them it will now be Guantánamo bay."

"The United States may transport additional detainees to US Naval Station Guantanamo Bay when lawful and necessary to protect the Nation," the order added.

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Obama ordered the closure of the prison in 2009 but Congress opposed the change.

41 detainees live at Guantanamo Bay, including 9/11 alleged mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

Hundreds of other detainees have been transferred from the facility.