THOMSON, Ill.—Residents in the northwestern Illinois community of Thomson say they’d rather take their chances with Guantanamo Bay detainees than struggle another year with high unemployment.
They say news that the federal government might buy the near-empty Thomson Correctional Center to house some detainees is a good sign that their town of about 450 may finally get its due.
Retiree Richard Groharing says the town is dying off because without jobs no young people are moving in.
Federal officials were at the prison to inspect it Monday.
President Barack Obama’s administration wants to close Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and move the detainees to the U.S. so they can be prosecuted. But several Illinois lawmakers say moving detainees to Illinois is too risky and would make the Chicago area a terrorist target.
