Thread: ICE Dentention System Criticized as Cruel

Detention system criticized as cruel
The Associated Press
Sunday, December 28, 2008

ELIZABETH, New Jersey: U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement defends its sprawling system of detention centers as a necessary part of its homeland security mission "to ensure a safer, more secure America."

"We are a country that cares about people but first we care about our own people and that they know who is here and why," said ICE spokeswoman Pat Reilly.

But a broad coalition of human rights groups criticize a system that indefinitely incarcerates people who have committed no crimes, and the groups argue, inflicts lasting psychological damage on top of traumas many have already experienced. They also raise questions about the legality of some ICE policies and the accountability of programs that cost billions of taxpayer dollars and affect millions of lives.

"It really is the dark side of American justice," said David Leopold of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. "We have managed to dehumanize our non-citizens in a way that reminds me of how the Nuremberg laws demonized Jews."

Nonetheless, there are many who support the system. "Detention is not for the convenience of the detainee, so it's too bad if it's not what they had in mind," said Steven Camarota of the Federation for American Immigration Reform. "Most in detention are not legitimately in this country and have no right, under our rules and laws, to remain here."

According to ICE, the average length of detention is five or six weeks, but many immigrants spend months or years in detention centers and county jails, with few of the resources — or safeguards — of regular inmates. They are not entitled to a lawyer or a jury trial, there is no date set for release and many are not entitled to bond.

"We are supposed to be the beacon of freedom for the world," said Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren. "And yet the first thing that happens to people fleeing persecution is that we further traumatize them by shackling them and putting them in jail. It's shameful and wrong."

Lofgren, an immigration lawyer, chairs the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law. Last summer she chaired congressional hearings on the medical care of detainees and said she was horrified at what she heard.

"There are some instances in which I think ICE is acting in violation of the law," Lofgren said, "not to mention in violation of basic humanity, commonsense and common decency."

Lofgren cited some highly publicized cases of detainees dying in custody and the difficulties of their families in obtaining information. Just this month, immigration officials removed 153 detainees from a Rhode Island detention center following the late-stage cancer death of a 34-year-old Chinese computer engineer who was being held for overstaying a visa.

Lofgren also criticized the sudden transfer of detainees from one facility to another — often to other states — without notifying families or attorneys. "I have had lawyers wringing their hands in my office because they couldn't find their clients," she said.

"People just disappear in the system all the time," said Andrea Black of Detention Watch Network, a coalition of about 100 organizations that focus on immigration detention and deportation issues. "And they are the ones we know about, with lawyers."

At the 300-bed detention center in Elizabeth, New Jersey, ICE Field Office Director Scott Weber said transfers are purely a matter of available bed space and are not done for punitive reasons. He pointed out that detainees themselves can call family and friends to tell them of their whereabouts.

Weber refused to directly answer questions about other policies at Elizabeth — such as why spouses are allowed no physical contact, why detainees must wear prison uniforms and why they receive no access to fresh air other than an hour a day in a room with an open skylight.

Instead, like other ICE officials in Washington and New Jersey, Weber consistently referred to a series of national detention "standards" adopted in 2000 in response to widespread criticism and legal challenges concerning conditions. Those standards are not legally binding or enforceable.

On a recent tour of Elizabeth, members of the media saw some women detainees at a handful of computer terminals and some men reading in a small room marked "library." But ICE refused permission to talk with the detainees. Some former detainees say access to books and computers was haphazard, and is not offered on a daily basis, as ICE stated.

ICE has an annual budget of nearly $5 billion a year. ICE officials in Washington and New Jersey refused repeated requests to say how much goes to Corrections Corporation of America, the private prison contractor that runs many detention centers, including Elizabeth. All Weber would disclose was that it costs $175 a day per detainee at Elizabeth. In contrast, it costs about $12 a day to monitor a detainee on parole.

CCA spokeswoman Louise Grant referred all queries back to ICE, saying "We follow ICE standards. They are our customer."

In March 2008 Jorge Bustamante, the United Nations Special Rapporteur for the Human Rights of Migrants, issued a stinging report on U.S. immigration policies, saying they violated human rights and international law. The report — written after Bustamante was turned away from two of the three detention facilities he attempted to visit — called for an end to mandatory detention, greater detainee access to legal counsel and codifying detention standards into law. Bustamante also deplored what he called the worsening xenophobia and racism toward immigrants since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Those attacks ushered in the most recent crackdown on immigrants by giving immigration authorities new powers to detain people indefinitely, and by encouraging an aggressive new enforcement strategy — Operation Endgame — which calls for the removal of all deportable aliens by 2012. The program targets, among others, people who have been living in the U.S. for years, often with jobs, families and community ties. Swept up in raids for visa violations and other administrative wrongdoings, they wind up in detention before being deported.

In Elizabeth, ICE Field Director Weber said his agency didn't have a lot of options. "We are not heartless or without compassion," he said. "We are enforcing the laws on the books."

Copyright © 2008 The International Herald Tribune

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/ ... Glance.php

If you break into our country don't expect to be put up at a Hilton or the Plaza. You'll get what we have available until we can ship you back to where you belong. Tell your relatives breaking into the US isn't a good idea. Tell them we don't like uninvited guests!!!! BECAUSE YOUR NOT YOUR CRIMINALS!!!!!

"We are supposed to be the beacon of freedom for the world," said Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren. "And yet the first thing that happens to people fleeing persecution is that we further traumatize them by shackling them and putting them in jail. It's shameful and wrong."

Here is another idiot that needs to go, she can not do anything in moderation, everything has to be extreme, one way and not what is best for this country. She is a fool! if she believes America abd be a beacib for the whole world.....someone please tell this idiot there are more than 6 BILLION people on this planet!

We have been INVADED and just because the invaders do not carry weapons (sometimes) does NOT mean they are not a threat to our nation !!!

Citizens are sick of the whining traitor supporters like Lofgren and their lack of support of our laws,our sovereignty as a nation and fuels the anger toward Illegal Aliens.

IA Removal is cheaper then providing " Federal Aid Benefits" to IA's who believe they are Entitled to Steal U.S. Taxpayers money !!

But a broad coalition of human rights groups criticize a system that indefinitely incarcerates people who have committed no crimes, and the groups argue, inflicts lasting psychological damage on top of traumas many have already experienced.

The have committed the crime of breaking and entering. I will agree with them, we hold them too long. They should be deported to the farthest point from the US within their own country no later than 72 hours after arrest.

Originally Posted by cayla99

But a broad coalition of human rights groups criticize a system that indefinitely incarcerates people who have committed no crimes, and the groups argue, inflicts lasting psychological damage on top of traumas many have already experienced.

The have committed the crime of breaking and entering. I will agree with them, we hold them too long. They should be deported to the farthest point from the US within their own country no later than 72 hours after arrest.

I agree Cayla99 but some countries like China,Cuba etc. will not accept their own IA's back into their country so instead they are housed in U.S. detention centers.

For every IA not accepted back into a country by their government a tax or some kind of monetary punishment should be imposed on trade with the USA to pay for the housing of their citizens !

Originally Posted by USPatriot

Originally Posted by cayla99

But a broad coalition of human rights groups criticize a system that indefinitely incarcerates people who have committed no crimes, and the groups argue, inflicts lasting psychological damage on top of traumas many have already experienced.

The have committed the crime of breaking and entering. I will agree with them, we hold them too long. They should be deported to the farthest point from the US within their own country no later than 72 hours after arrest.

I agree Cayla99 but some countries like China,Cuba etc. will not accept their own IA's back into their country so instead they are housed in U.S. detention centers.

For every IA not accepted back into a country by their government a tax or some kind of monetary punishment should be imposed on trade with the USA to pay for the housing of their citizens !

We could just drop them at UN headquarters :P Let them take care of the illegals until they can persuade the home country to take them back. We can post a few border guards to make sure they do not escape back into our society.

Originally Posted by cayla99

Originally Posted by USPatriot

Originally Posted by cayla99

But a broad coalition of human rights groups criticize a system that indefinitely incarcerates people who have committed no crimes, and the groups argue, inflicts lasting psychological damage on top of traumas many have already experienced.

The have committed the crime of breaking and entering. I will agree with them, we hold them too long. They should be deported to the farthest point from the US within their own country no later than 72 hours after arrest.

I agree Cayla99 but some countries like China,Cuba etc. will not accept their own IA's back into their country so instead they are housed in U.S. detention centers.

For every IA not accepted back into a country by their government a tax or some kind of monetary punishment should be imposed on trade with the USA to pay for the housing of their citizens !

We could just drop them at UN headquarters :P Let them take care of the illegals until they can persuade the home country to take them back. We can post a few border guards to make sure they do not escape back into our society.

Great Idea and when the UN is full then we can ship them to the Vatican since the Pope surely would not mind caring for the poor misunderstood IA's !

**Not angry with Catholics just their leadership's role in Lobbying for IA's.

Cut off all aid to ALL countries who refuse to take back their citizens.....IMMEDIATELY! as of YESTERDAY!

We are supposed to be the beacon of freedom for the world," said Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren.

We are also a nation of laws. Freedom doesnt mean everyone in the world can come here illegally and stay.

Bustamante also deplored what he called the worsening xenophobia and racism toward immigrants since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001

Bustamante is another idiot. Illegal aliens are a threat to our national security and should be locked up and deported.