Illinois town now top location for Gitmo detainees

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kansas - Fort Leavenworth is out and now a facility in Illinois is the lead candidate to house Guantanamo detainees.

The new leading location is a near-empty, rural facility in Thomson, Illinois.

Fort Leavenworth had been floated as a location to house Gitmo detainees by the Obama administration several months ago.

Kansas leaders fought that idea, saying the facility cannot properly house the maximum security prisoners.

The news that an Illinois facility is now the administration's top option is pleasing to Kansas lawmakers.

"I remain opposed to bringing the prisoners from Guantanamo Bay to the United States, but if they're going to bring them -- if the administration is dead set in that regard, I'm pleased it is not in Fort Leavenworth," said Representative Jerry Moran (R).

Congressman Moran points out that congress has passed legislation that prevents the detainees from being transported to the US unless they are here for a trial.

To move the prisoners to the Illinois facility would require congressional approval.

See story video at KSN.com

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