Directing Certain Actions with Respect to Acquisition and Use of Thomson Correctional Center to Facilitate Closure of Detention Facilities at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base

This memorandum directs the Attorney General to acquire and activate the Thomson Correctional Center in Illinois as a federal penitentiary and to provide a portion to the Department of Defense for detainee housing. The Secretary of Defense is directed to prepare the facility and relocate Guantanamo Bay detainees there, consistent with Executive Order 13492 and applicable laws.

Federal Register Open PDF 75 FR 1015

Impact dates

Date TBD
All actions to be taken as expeditiously as possible

Key directives

Attorney General shall acquire and activate TCC as United States Penitentiary
Attorney General shall provide sufficient portion of TCC to Department of Defense for detention facility
Secretary of Defense shall prepare TCC for secure housing of Guantanamo detainees designated for relocation
Secretary of Defense shall relocate designated Guantanamo detainees to TCC
Actions to be taken 'as expeditiously as possible'

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Attorney General directed to acquire and activate TCC as US Penitentiary
Secretary of Defense directed to begin preparing TCC for detainee housing

Near term (90d)

—

Long term

Potential relocation of Guantanamo detainees to Thomson, Illinois pending facility preparation and legal compliance

Risks & tensions

Congressional opposition to Guantanamo detainees on US soil ultimately blocked implementation
Relies on 'laws related to Guantanamo detainees' which Congress subsequently restricted
Vague 'as expeditiously as possible' timeline lacks enforceability
Interagency coordination between DOD and DOJ required but not structurally guaranteed