Thomson to house federal inmates, Gitmo detainees

[scandal 951]

Thomson to house federal inmates, Gitmo detainees

December 14, 2009 10:58 PM | 3 Comments | UPDATED STORY

WASHINGTON -- President Obama has directed the federal government to buy the near-empty state prison in rural Thomson, Ill., to house federal inmates and up to 100 detainees from the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, officials said late Monday.

The official announcement is planned for Tuesday and follows weeks of consideration of the Thomson Correctional Center as the most secure site in the federal prison system.

The decision is part of a complicated plan for shutting down the controversial Guantanamo detention center, a lightning rod for anti-American sentiment around the world as a result of detainee abuses there during the previous administration.

Obama ordered the shutdown of the detention center as one of his first acts after inauguration last January.

But actually closing it has proven a cumbersome matter, largely because of the difficulty of finding other places to put the suspected terrorists.

Illinois and local officials suggested the near-vacant Thomson prison, which was started in the 1990s and completed in 2001.

Under a plan officials will unveil in the coming days, the administration plans to send some of the detainees to their home countries and others to third countries, some of which operate rehabilitation programs for suspected terrorists.

The Thomson prison could house between 35 and 90 of the Guantanamo detainees, said one source familiar with the discussions.

Toward that end, Obama has directed that the federal government proceed with the acquisition of the Thomson prison center, an administration official said late Monday. The official said the prison would be used to house federal inmates as well as "a limited number of detainees" from Guantanamo Bay.

"Closing the detention center at Guantanamo is essential to protecting our national security and helping our troops by removing a deadly recruiting tool from the hands of Al Qaeda," the administration official said.

The announcement on Tuesday "is an important step forward as we work to achieve our national security objectives," the official said.

U.S. Sen. ####### Durbin and Gov. Patrick Quinn are scheduled to be in Washington on Tuesday afternoon to be briefed by administration officials at the White House on the decision. Both Democrats, Durbin and Quinn have been major promoters of the project.

--Christi Parsons

[Danno 1,228]

Seems kinda odd that in 1990 they built a prison that would hold less than 100 inmates.

And why would it be "nearly empty" now.. crime gone down that much?

[alienlovechild 75]

Can't wait to the Gitmo crew meets up with America's finest citizens behind bars. The shankings, gang bangs, prison riots, the shouting most of the day, the wonderful smells from fellow prisoners, prison conversions to any religion that looks good to the parole board. . .

We'll show the world that didn't like Gitmo that we have the finest penal institutions in the whole world. Makes ya proud to be an American.

[scandal 951]

Seems kinda odd that in 1990 they built a prison that would hold less than 100 inmates.

And why would it be "nearly empty" now.. crime gone down that much?

It was originally built for 1600 prisoners. It's been underutilized due to the operational costs being much higher than originally planned.

I guess we IL taxpayers are getting a deal, selling a white elephant to the federal government, so the rest of US taxpayers get to participate in these

high operating costs along with us. Still gonna be cheaper than Gitmo....

Can't wait to the Gitmo crew meets up with America's finest citizens behind bars. The shankings, gang bangs, prison riots, the shouting most of the day, the wonderful smells from fellow prisoners, prison conversions to any religion that looks good to the parole board. . .

We'll show the world that didn't like Gitmo that we have the finest penal institutions in the whole world. Makes ya proud to be an American.

Nope. IL is selling the facility to the federal government. It will be delivered as a vacant building, state prisoners to be transferred elsewhere. No mingling between al Quaida types with common criminals.

[Ban Hammer 14,636]

Can't wait to the Gitmo crew meets up with America's finest citizens behind bars. The shankings, gang bangs, prison riots, the shouting most of the day, the wonderful smells from fellow prisoners, prison conversions to any religion that looks good to the parole board. . .

We'll show the world that didn't like Gitmo that we have the finest penal institutions in the whole world. Makes ya proud to be an American.

and they can get a chance to learn rap too!

[HAL 9000 96]

The people of Thomson are happy, so I hear. Good for them and the jobs this will bring to their community.

[NickD 203]

Since they call them detainees, should be sent to a detainment center, you send prisoners to prisons.

In regarding detaining, the USCIS comes to mind.

Obama is hoping that sending them to a nicer prison, would deter Bin Laden from future recruitments, I do know it's colder in Illinois, maybe that would deter them.

[mawilson 2,133]

Can't wait to the Gitmo crew meets up with America's finest citizens behind bars. The shankings, gang bangs, prison riots, the shouting most of the day, the wonderful smells from fellow prisoners, prison conversions to any religion that looks good to the parole board. . .

We'll show the world that didn't like Gitmo that we have the finest penal institutions in the whole world. Makes ya proud to be an American.

Yeah I hear they love child molesters and terrorists.

[NickD 203]

Looks like a nice place to visit, but wouldn't want to live there.