Kirk pushes banning federal funds to move Gitmo detainees to U.S.

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk is introducing legislation to permanently ban the use of federal funds to transfer Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States.

Kirk, a Highland Park Republican, joined Rep. Aaron Schock, a Peoria Republican, in December in successfully pushing for language to ban the use of funds for these transfers to be included in the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act that Congress approved.

After hearing reports that White House officials were considering overturning the ban through use of a special executive order, Kirk and Schock filed the new legislation this week.

Both believe the administration’s long-term goals are to use Thomson Correctional Center in northwestern Illinois as a potential site to house the terrorist detainees.

The prison currently belongs to the state of Illinois. Plans to sell Thomson to the Federal Bureau of Prisons fell through last December, but federal officials reportedly remain interested in buying the prison to house non-Gitmo federal prisoners.

Kirk and Schock favor keeping the trial and detention of Gitmo prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.

“Since the federal government spent over $400 million to build courtrooms and a terrorist detention facility at the 45-square-mile Guantanamo Bay facility, we should use it and not waste money on a new facility during this time of fiscal austerity,” Kirk said.

Co-sponsors in the House include suburban Republican Reps. Judy Biggert of Hinsdale, Randy Hultgren of Winfield, Adam Kinzinger of Manteno, Peter Roskam of Wheaton, Don Manzullo of Egan and Joe Walsh of McHenry.