Behind The Scenes: Deporting Illegal Immigrants

Last Update: 4/07 4:18 pm


More than 100 Hondurans prepare to go home. (Steve Kline, Newport Television LLC) San Antonio is a hub of people crossing our borders illegally to come and make a new life, and also a hub for those who are caught and will eventually get sent back.

Our News 4 cameras were invited to Pearsall for an early morning look inside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, facility there. We're able to show you just what's going on in the middle of the night while you're sleeping.

Guiltan Abran says he made the long treacherous trek from Honduras to the US in search of work. He says during the 15 days it took to get from Honduras to the US border, he watched others get hurt, even die while jumping railroad cars.

It was a bitter-sweet moment when he finally reached the Rio Grande River leading to Texas because he was immediately captured after crossing. He's spent the last month at Pearsall's Detention facility.

You'll see there's little sympathy from ICE officials.

Marc J. Moore is the ICE Field Officer Director. He told us about Guiltan: "Well, he's violated the immigration laws of the United States. He entered illegally."

They ship about three thousand illegal immigrants out of the country every month. Guiltan is one of more than 100 men we meet on this particular morning who are about to be flown back to Honduras.

It's all part of an incredibly complicated process; From getting everyone travel papers to medical check-ups, then loading them onto buses and safely to the airport, and even something as minute as packing a lunch for their trip home.

At anytime, officers have to be able to deal with all sorts of problems that could arise. Like on the morning of our visit, a chicken pox outbreak pops up.

Moore told us about the outbreak, "It's just part and parcel of individuals that come from other countries, typically Central and South American countries."

This meant about a dozen men had to be pulled from the flight and kept separated from the group.

Moore explained, "Everything we do is wrapped around the interest of national security."

So the detainees are checked, shackled, loaded onto buses and driven to the San Antonio International Airport, then screened one more time.

"Certainly there's a large measure of non-criminals," said Moore, "Folks who are coming here to work or do other things, but there's also a significant amount have criminal backgrounds; ranging from minor criminal offenses to some that are rather aggravated and severe."

This all comes at a high price to you, the taxpayer, of about $72,000 per plane full. That adds up to more than $300,000 per week.

"I think ICE has a clear commitment to not only safe detention but also humane detention, and I think this is part of that," explained Moore.

It seems to be a never-ending job because people like Guiltan are desperate to get here, no matter the cost. He told us maybe the third time is the charm, and he will return if God wants it.

ICE officials tell us detainees usually spend between 18 and 20 days at the facility, giving them time to coordinate a full flight to each destination and in effect, saving you money.

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