Democratic Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin said Tuesday that the prison where the Obama administration is trying to transfer detainees “will be an important piece in the economic future of Illinois.”
Joined @RepCheri to announce warden hiring at Thomson Prison. The prison will be an important piece in the economic future of northern IL
— Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) August 18, 2014
Thomson Prison, which houses 1,600 cells, installed a new warden Tuesday. President Obama gave the federal government control of Thomson prison in 2009 through the Department of Justice. Obama planned to move Guantanamo refugees into the prison until Republicans blocked funding for detainee transfers.
Since then, Obama has unilaterally released a number of Guantanamo prisoners including five senior Taliban leaders. Democrats would still like to see detainees moved there, and have repeatedly used the talking point that a new transferred-terrorist unit managed by the Defense Department would stimulate the local economy in Carroll County.
Dick Durbin’s thoughts on prison must be similar to what gardeners think of their plants.
— Etaoin Shrdlu 胆汁 (@databendr) August 19, 2014