Illinois Governor Pat Quinn announced Tuesday afternoon that the federal government is acquiring the state prison in Thomson, and will house detainees currently being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

During a news conference at the White House, Quinn said the arrangement will help the economy of Illinois, while the state will provide an important service to the rest of the country. The Obama Administration has been looking for a place to move the terror suspects on U.S. soil, for national security reasons.

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois was also at the announcement. He said the deal will create 3,000 jobs and will help the economy in northwestern Illinois, where unemployment is high. He says 30 county boards and municipalities in the Thomson area have also declared support for the plan.

The state built the maximum security prison in Thomson in 2001 for about $140 million, but did not have the funding to operate it. In recent years, about 200 minimum security prisoners have been kept in the facility, which can house up to 1,600 inmates. The Illinois Department of Corrections says it has space for those inmates in other facilities.

Republican lawmakers responded to the announcement by raising concerns over the status of the detainees and their rights, once in the U.S. They also repeated fears that the terror suspects will compromise public safety in this country.

No timeline for the move has been announced yet.