Terrorists Near Naperville
December 18, 2009
In early November it was announced that a prison in northwestern Illinois was a possible choice for the relocation of Guantanamo Bay detainees.
This prison, located in Thomsonville, Illinois, is about 150 miles from Chicago. The possibility of bringing accused terrorists into the United States has drawn a storm of controversy and debate.
To supporters, the prison was seen as a prime choice because it is secluded in a rural area, is a super max prison, and is relatively empty.
If the government buys the prison, as is proposed, it will create as many as 3,000 jobs according to the Obama administration.
Half of these jobs would go to the local Illinoisans. The people of Thomsonville are split on the issue, but many are supporting it due to the current economic situation in the area and being hit hard by the recession, with unemployment rising within the state as a whole, and especially the area where the prison is located.
However, much criticism has come from the right wing. The Illinois Republican congressional delegation wrote a letter to President Obama stating their opposition and concerns to the proposed prison. Among chief concerns is security.
One representative, Mark Kirk, stated that he feared that “Illinois could become ground zero for Jihadist terrorist plots, recruitment, and radicalization.”
These fears, along with where the prisoners will be sent for medical care, and where the trials for prisoners will be held, were outlined in the letter sent to the president.
If the deal is made, it will have to go through congress, and Governor Pat Quinn is confident the deal will be passed before the end of the year. Without a doubt, if the decision is made to send the prisoners to Illinois, the area will be given an economic boost in a time when it is desperately needed. But the decision remains undecided among citizens.
Although there will be no noticeable change due to the high security at the prison, others want to know if this is a necessary risk for the people in Illinois.
Thomas Rowland, Staff Writer
