Ahmed Ghailani, a Guantanamo Bay detainee facing charges for his alleged involvement in two U.S. Embassy bombings a decade ago, arrived in New York June 9 to stand trial. Ghailani, who pled not guilty to the charges, is the first Gitmo detainee to be tried on American soil in a civilian court system.

Congressional Republicans have repeatedly contended that transferring terrorist suspects to U.S. soil will threaten public safety. The Guantanamo issue has seemed one of the few issues falling the Republicans’ way, as polls suggest that most Americans want to keep the Cuba-based prison operating.

But if Ghailani can be handled without serious incident in New York and elsewhere, the GOP argument may lose steam and Congress may rethink its refusal to fund the closing of Guantanamo. The move also could bolster Obama’s efforts to persuade other nations to accept some detainees from the prison.

Previously, four other individuals were sentenced to life in prison for their roles in the bombings.