What They Said

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President Barack Obama’s administration wants to close Guantanamo Bay, a military-run detention center in Cuba, and move the detainees to the U.S. so they can be prosecuted for their suspected crimes. The detainees are terrorism suspects who have been held, often without charges, since the beginning of the war in Afghanistan.

To that end, the federal Bureau of Prisons is considering buying the Thomson Correctional Center in Carroll County, where it may house about 100 of the suspected terrorists, although that estimate varies.

A variety of legislators and candidates weighed in on the matter in various news releases issued over the weekend.

Among them:

“The terrorists remaining at Guantanamo Bay are dangerous and brutal killers, many of whom were involved in the attacks on our nation. As a matter of national security and public safety, I have consistently joined with a majority of my colleagues in fighting efforts to bring these terrorists onto our shores, and I adamantly oppose this plan to bring the terrorists to northwestern Illinois, where they could one day be released into our communities ...

“Our residents in Carroll County and throughout northwestern Illinois desperately need jobs, and if there’s a need for a new federal prison to house domestic federal prisoners, the Thomson facility would be ideal.”

“But bringing the world’s most dangerous terrorists to northern Illinois would do more harm than good in the long run. Future job providers and residents would have serious reservations about locating in a region that’s home to the world’s most dangerous criminals and could be a target for future terrorist activity.”

– U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo, R-Egan

• • •

“As the federal government and the state of Illinois considers expanding the role of Thomson Correctional facility, they must first and foremost guarantee the safety and security of those who live in the surrounding area.

“The prospects of thousands of additional good-paying jobs and much-needed revenue for our state are factors we should consider, but safety must be the primary consideration.”

– U.S. Rep. Phil Hare,
D-Rock Island

• • •

“Of course anyone brought to a maximum-security prison is dangerous by definition. This is why we built Thomson prison to begin with – to house dangerous individuals. ... Jobs have to be our number-one priority. While the Republicans peddle fear, we choose jobs.

“I fail to see how safely housing Guantanamo Bay inmates is different than safely housing Manuel Noriega, Gangster Disciple inmates, John Gotti, or mass murderers, or other violent criminals that are or have been routinely housed in maximum-security prisons in Illinois. Apparently, Republicans do not think it is possible to chew gum and walk at the same time. We can create jobs by opening Thomson prison and do it safely, regardless of who is imprisoned there.”

– State Rep. Mike Boland,
D-East Moline

“It appears that Gov. Quinn’s only plan to cut spending and create jobs is free prisoners and bring terrorists to Illinois. I wholeheartedly oppose Gov. Quinn and President Obama’s efforts to move Gitmo detainees to our neighborhoods. This shows how out of touch Gov. Quinn really is.”

– GOP gubernatorial hopefuls Andy McKenna and his
running mate, Matt Muphy

• • •

“As governor, my first priority would be to ensure the safety and security of Illinois residents. Therefore, I oppose using the Thomson Correctional Center or any Illinois prison to house al-Qaida suspects.

“Under a Dillard administration, we will not make our state a potential target if any of these terror suspects stand trial and are convicted in an Illinois courtroom.

“This is a matter of national security, and I applaud the Illinois Republican delegation in Congress for standing firmly against the closing of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.”

– State Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Lisle

• • •

“This is a terrible idea that threatens the safety of Illinois residents.

“It is emblematic of the Obama administration’s erratic public policy choices. The president issues an edict that he will close Gitmo without a plan for the detainees there. Instead of keeping suspected terrorists off domestic soil, the president and Gov. Quinn are poised to bring to Illinois those with the ability to operate beyond the walls of any prison.

“We should be utilizing the Thomson prison to relieve prison overcrowding in Illinois’ existing 28 state prisons. According to a report issued by Illinois Auditor General Bill Holland this fall, Illinois’ prisons are 32 percent over capacity currently.’

– Republican gubernatorial
hopeful Dan Proft

• • •

“Any deal by Pat Quinn to sell the prison to the federal government would increase safety risks and offer no measurable economic benefit to the local economy.
“We must presume that terrorist groups would constantly plot to free their cohorts. The fact that this small town is in fairly close proximity to a major river should be of safety and strategic concern.
“A federal prison which must provide the ultimate in prison separation would not be likely to house a population any greater than the 200 prisoners Thomson now holds.
“These terrorism suspects are not likely to be visited by throngs of family members who would stay in local hotels, eat in local diners or shop in local stores. Thus, there would be no real economic development benefit to the community. Ultimately, the burden placed on town residents seems outweighed by the one-time economic benefit.”

– William “Dock” Walls,
Democratic candidate for the gubernatorial nomination

• • •

“This shouldn’t even be an option. There are plenty of states across the country that don’t need a terrorist prison to create jobs. I can think of at least 10 better ways to bring jobs back to Illinois, other than sacrificing our security by bringing terrorists here. ... This will put al-Qaida terrorists within 50 miles of our children. It is unacceptable.”

– Bobby Schilling,
Rock Island Republican and 17th Congressional District hopeful