Washington, Mar 14, (RHC), -- Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) will tour the U.S. detention facility in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, on Friday, according to a report from his home state.

"He just feels like it's an important counterterrorism tool and wants to see it himself firsthand," spokeswoman Caroline Rabbitt told the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

Cotton is being joined by four other freshmen senators, Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).

Cotton has been a loud opponent of any plans to close the detention facility, which holds terrorism suspects.

The base's critics say the facility holds suspects without giving them a trial and treats them harshly.