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Harkin OK with Moving Detainees to Illinois

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

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Harkin OK with Moving Detainees to Illinois

By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Nov 19, 2009 at 1:13 PM CST

Story Updated: Nov 19, 2009 at 1:13 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS (AP) - Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin says he backs a proposal to move terrorism detainees from Guantanamo Bay in Cuba to an Illinois prison.

The Obama administration is looking at buying the nearly empty Thomson Correctional Center in western Illinois and use the maximum-security state prison to house detainees.

Harkin said Thursday he sees no security concerns and expects that as many as 20 percent of the 3,000 jobs at the northwest Illinois prison could be filled by Iowans from the Clinton and Quad Cities.

Harkin noted a number of terrorists, including the mastermind of a World Trade Center bombing, were already in prison on U.S. soil.

While the Iowa Democrat supports moving detainees to U.S. soil, many GOP lawmakers object, warning it would make the area a terrorist target.

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