Washington: Detainees at the US military jail in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba will be transferred to a prison the federal government will acquire in the northern state of Illinois, an administration official said on Tuesday.
"Today, the administration will announce that the
president has directed that the federal government proceed
with the acquisition of the Thomson Correctional Center in
Thomson, Illinois to house federal inmates and a limited
number of detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba," the official
said.
"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 same official added.
"Today's announcement is an important step forward as we
work to achieve our national security objectives."
The Chicago Tribune earlier reported that the facility
would house between 35 and 90 detainees to be transferred from
the controversial detention camp located on a US naval base in
southeastern Cuba.
The decision has been months in the making, as the
administration works to close the Guantanamo facility,
fulfilling one of US President Barack Obama's campaign
promises.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 20:40