Illinois prison to house Gitmo detainees

CHICAGO, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- The federal government will work to acquire a prison in Thomson, Ill., to house terror suspects now held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Cabinet officials said.

"We write to inform you that the president has directed, with our unanimous support, that the federal government proceed with the acquisition of the (Thomson Correctional Center)," several Cabinet officials wrote Tuesday to Illinois Gov. Patrick Quinn. "Not only will this help address the urgent overcrowding problem at our nation's federal prisons, but it will also help achieve our goal of closing the detention center at Guantanamo in a timely, secure and lawful manner."

Discussions began in earnest in November about acquiring the 1,600-bed, maximum-security facility to house a limited number of Guantanamo Bay detainees, wrote Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Attorney General Eric Holder and National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair.

Federal departments and agencies will work with state and local law enforcement authorities to identify and alleviate any risks associated with the transfer, the letter said. The facility, about 150 miles northwest of Chicago, could house 35 to 90 Guantanamo detainees and create up to 3,800 jobs, officials said.

"The president has no intention of releasing any detainees in the United States," the letter said, closing with, "There are many steps still to be taken and many requirements still to be met, but we look forward to working with you to complete the federal acquisition of the facility in Thomson."

During a floor session Tuesday, Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., said the Obama administration was "putting international public relations ahead of public safety."

Rep. Phil Hare, D-Ill., said in a statement the announcement was "good news" for national security and Illinois' economy.

In a White House briefing, administration spokesman Robert Gibbs Tuesday said the decision to pursue the Illinois facility was "a big step in that process of closing Guantanamo Bay."

Asked whether the president understands some Americans have concerns about housing detainees in Illinois, Gibbs said it was important to "separate what might be legitimate concern with what is nothing more than scare tactics and hyperbole that we haven't seen in quite some time."

Gibbs noted more than 350 prisoners convicted of terrorist acts are being held in U.S. prisons and said "closing Guantanamo makes this country safer."