US President Barack Obama has ordered the federal government to buy a prison in Illinois to take a number of inmates¹ from Guantanamo Bay.

美国总统奥巴马下令联邦政府在伊利诺伊州购买一座监狱以关押关塔那摩湾的若干囚犯。

Thomson jail is tipped as the 'leading option' for Guantanamo inmates

The move is a key part of Mr Obama's plan to close the Cuba-based jail.

The number of inmates for transfer to the Thomson Correctional Center has not been given officially, but US media report it could be between 35 and 90.

Senior officials said security would be upgraded, making Thomson the most secure jail in the country.

Obama administration officials have said that closing Guantanamo Bay is "essential" in removing a key al-Qaeda recruiting招募，招聘 tool.

Mr Obama had given himself one year to achieve this, but with officials still trying to work out what to do with about 215 inmates at the camp, he admitted in November that a 22 January deadline had slipped to later in 2010.

A letter signed by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defence Secretary Robert Gates says: "The president has directed, with our unanimous无异义的，意见一致的 support, that the federal government proceed with the acquisition获得，购买 of the facility in Thomson."

A briefing by senior officials said the move represented "an important step to achieve our national security objectives" and that Thomson would "go beyond even maximum security prison standards".

An improved perimeter周长，周围 fence would make the prison "the most secure in the country", officials at the briefing said.

They said the number of Guantanamo inmates at Thomson would be "limited".

There remain questions on the legality of transfers to US soil but the briefing officials said it was permissible³获得准许的 to bring in detainees for prosecution⁴.

The briefing heard: "It would be a violation⁵ of current law to transfer individuals for anything but the purpose of prosecution - that's the [legal] change we'll be looking for."

There have been concerns in the US about inmates escaping or eventually gaining the right to live on American soil.

However the Clinton/Gates letter says: "The president has no intention of releasing any detainees in the United States."

Another letter, from Attorney General Eric Holder⁶ and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to Congress, and obtained by the Associated Press news agency, says a detainee will be treated as though he is at the border trying to obtain entry, but will not do so.

No timeframe时间表 has been given for the first transfer.

Republicans criticised the move. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Americans and Congress had "already rejected bringing terrorists to US soil for long-term detention⁷, and current law prohibits it".