THOMSON -- The Thomson Correctional Center reportedly is "at the top of the list" of facilities being considered to house detainees now at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, said Monday after being briefed by federal officials.

"This is a fine, fine facility of a high-security nature," said Harley Lappin, director of the federal Bureau of Prisons.

Officials from the Defense Department and Lappin's agency toured the nearly vacant prison Monday and met with dozens of local lawmakers, business people and others from the area.

Backers have characterized the proposal as a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity that may generate $1 billion over four years for the local economy.

Critics say the economic benefits are overstated and bringing in Guantanamo Bay detainees will make northern Illinois a magnet for terrorists.

"Preying on economic uncertainty to advance a plan that undermines our national security is indefensible," said U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, a Republican from Highland Park.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., accused critics of fear mongering and political posturing. He said that fewer than 100 of the inmates would be from Guantanamo Bay, and that the government would build an extra perimeter fence around the prison.

"This would be the most secure prison in the United States of America," the senator said.

Federal and state officials said the process is in the early stages and that there are other potential locations, both civilian and military, for the detainees. Braley said the same, but later added that federal officials said Thompson "was at the top of their list of several facilities they're evaluating."

The Obama administration has said only that it's a leading contender.

Officials didn't indicate when a decision would be made.

Phil Carter, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for detainee policy, said 1,000 to 1,500 military and civilian Department of Defense employees would be part of the operation. Most of them being uniformed military, he said.

Lappin added 800 to 900 people would run the federal prison, including 400 to 500 new hires. State prison employees would have to compete in the "very, very competitive" application process for those federal jobs.

The 8-year-old, 1,600-cell facility now houses about 200 minimum-security inmates, and there are only 82 staff members, according to the state.

New jobs would be a blessing for a local economy hit hard by the closing of the Savanna Army ammunition plant in 2000 and the current recession.

"We need this to help our community, our communities around us and us are hurting big," said Thomson Village President Jerry Hebeler.

An administration analysis determined more than 3,000 jobs could be created directly and indirectly, Durbin's office reported. Half would go to the local population, and there would be an impact of as much as $1 billion over four years, his office said.

While critics said visitors to the Guantanamo detainees could become a threat, Carter said they would not be allowed visitors other than attorneys. Officials also said they haven't had a problem with "external threats" at other federal facilities holding terrorism convicts.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.