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, with a portion reserved for Department of Defense operation to house Guantanamo detainees. The Secretary of Defense is directed to prepare the facility and relocate designated Guantanamo detainees there, consistent with applicable laws and Executive Order 13492.

Federal Register Open PDF 74 FR 67047

Impact dates

Date TBD
All directed 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 detainee operations
Secretary of Defense shall prepare TCC for secure housing of Guantanamo detainees
Secretary of Defense shall relocate designated detainees to TCC consistent with applicable laws and EO 13492

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Memorandum directs actions 'as expeditiously as possible'

Near term (90d)

Acquisition and activation of Thomson Correctional Center
Preparation for detainee housing

Long term

Potential closure of Guantanamo Bay detention facilities
Relocation of designated detainees to Thomson

Risks & tensions

No hard deadline specified; 'as expeditiously as possible' leaves timing uncertain
Contingent on congressional funding and appropriations for facility acquisition
Legal and political obstacles to Guantanamo closure remained significant
Illinois state and local political dynamics around detainee housing unresolved in text