It didn't take long for proposals to house Guantanamo Bay detainees at a nearly empty Illinois prison to spark talk by Republicans across the Mississippi River in Iowa.

Congressman Steve King, who represents western Iowa, claims the plan would lead to a "terrorist enclave" next door. Rep. Tom Latham has introduced legislation prohibiting the transfer of the detainees to Iowa, Illinois and nine other Midwestern states.

Sen. Charles Grassley says he understands why Iowans would be worried about the plan. Sen. Tom Harkin and Rep. Bruce Braley have focused more on potential jobs.

Drake University political science professor Dennis Goldford says the proposal by President Obama raises significant questions, but he fears politics are getting in the way of seriously examining the plan.