WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said in his first State of the Union address on Tuesday that he had signed an order to reexamine the U.S. military detention policy and to keep open the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

"In the past, we have foolishly released hundreds of dangerous terrorists, only to meet them again on the battlefield -- including the ISIS leader, al-Baghdadi," Trump said. "So today, I am keeping another promise."

"When possible, we annihilate them. When necessary, we must be able to detain and question them. But we must be clear: Terrorists are not merely criminals. They are unlawful enemy combatants. And when captured overseas, they should be treated like the terrorists they are," he said.

Hundreds of detainees were transferred to sites in the United States or sent to their home countries under President Barack Obama, who failed to close the prison center.

Critics accused the center of having been plagued by crimes of torture.