Shimkus and Roskam Call on Sen. Durbin and Treasurer Giannoulias to Join Bipartisan Wave of Opposition to Creating Guantanamo Illinois

Washington, DC  – Today, Illinois Congressmen Peter Roskam and John Shimkus released the following joint statement calling on Sen. Dick Durbin and Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias to join the bipartisan wave of opposition to the controversial plan to move Guantanamo to Illinois:

“We urge both Sen. Durbin and Treasurer Giannoulias to stand on the side of the people of Illinois and finally oppose moving Guantanamo Bay Prison to Illinois.  Given the recent attempted Christmas Day terrorist attack on another Midwestern state, the recent decision to relocate Khalid Sheikh Mohammad’s trial from New York, and the growing bipartisan wave of opposition to this misguided effort, the way forward is clear.

Creating Guantanamo Illinois will only further threaten our security, regionally and nationally, and public opposition to the plan has been widespread and bipartisan.

When even the White House recognizes creating Guantanamo Illinois is a mistake that must now be reconsidered, we urge Sen. Durbin and Treasurer Giannoulias recognize good judgment, recant their support and join the bipartisan opposition to this controversial plan.”

Note:

White House Gave Treasurer Giannoulias NSC Briefing on Transfer:

On November 20, 2009, Illinois state Treasurer Giannoulias disclosed to a Chicago area radio station that he had received a briefing from the Obama Administration’s National Security Council on the potential move to Illinois, prior to Republican members of Congress receiving the same briefing. Listen to that disclosure here.

White House Reconsidering Transfer According to Majority Leader Hoyer (D-Md):

“I think the administration realizes that this is a difficult issue. And I think that they are assessing where they are and where they think we ought to be, and I think that’s appropriate and I look forward to discussing it with them.” (Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md), February 2nd)

Democrat Rep. Melissa Bean (IL-08) opposes the move:

“I remain opposed to transferring Guantanamo detainees to Illinois, or anywhere in the U.S., while awaiting more detailed information on what’s being proposed, including potential security threats and plans for resolving detainees’ final status.  As of yet, I have seen neither." (Rep. Melissa Bean, D-IL, November 18th)

Democrat Rep. Debbie Halvorson (IL-11) opposes the move:

“I am not yet convinced such a transfer would be in the best interests of our national security. I would need to see a plan that guarantees the safety of Americans and that this transfer is in the best interests of the local community, state, and country before I could support this proposal.” (Rep. Debbie Halvorson, D-IL, November 19th)

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