COLLINSVILLE, Ill. (KMOX) -- A Southern Illinois Congressman has signed onto legislation that would stop federal funds from being used to transfer prisoners from Guantanamo Bay to a Northern Illinois prison.
Republican John Shimkus says he's concerned about the environment such a move might create around the Thomson Correctional Center, "do they not that this will now be an area that people of all sorts, sizes and shapes will descend upon to show support or opposition?"
And Shimkus tells KMOX he fears it will make Northern Illinois a bigger target for terrorists.
He says he wants a briefing from the Department of Defense, "we have asked for one, we have been told no. We have now signed another letter asking for another one." Specifically, Shimkus says he has many questions about security, "on how the DOD is planning to do the transfer and I think there's a lot of questions as to where they'll be tried... the most recent rumor is that maybe inside the facility. There are transportation issues if that's not the case."
The federal government has proposed buying the maximum security Thomson Correctional Center. The prison has sat nearly empty since it was built because of state budget woes.
Governor Pat Quinn and Senator Dick Durbin, both Democrats, say they welcome the idea.
Some residents of the Mississippi River town say they'd rather take their chances with suspected terrorists, than watch their neighbors continue to move away due to a lack of jobs.
Congressman Shimkus tells KMOX, any potential benefits don't outweigh the risks. "This job argument should make people sick. So the only jobs that we can now create are those when we bring the terrorists to our shores from Guantanamo?! I'm embarassed."
The Obama administration wants to close the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and transfer some terrorism suspects to the U.S. for trial.
On Monday, federal officials were at the Thomson prison to inspect it and meet with state and local authorities.
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