Thread: Report: U.S. mistreats illegal immigrant minors

Report: U.S. mistreats illegal immigrant minors

Some kids appear in court without representation, others caged, group says

updated 2:16 a.m. PT, Fri., Nov. 14, 2008

DALLAS - U.S. authorities have compromised the rights and safety of some unaccompanied illegal immigrant children they have detained, and inadequate government guidelines are partly to blame, according to a Texas-based research group.

Many children appeared before immigration judges without legal representation, some were transported home in shackles or cages, and the medical needs of some were ignored, according to a report released Thursday by the Center for Public Policy Priorities, a nonprofit think tank.

"There's no consistent policy. There's nobody who's responsible for these kids, in looking out for their safety," report author Amy Thompson said. "It's being handled in ad hoc fashion."

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees immigration and border enforcement, disputes the center's findings.

"DHS and its component agencies treat all minors, including unaccompanied alien children, with dignity, respect and special concern for their particular vulnerabilities," spokeswoman Laura Keehner said in a statement Thursday evening.

The report was compiled by examining U.S. immigration agency documents and immigration policies and statistics in the United States, Mexico and Honduras. The center also interviewed children who were apprehended, government officials, contractors and nonprofit workers in the three countries, and toured of two Texas facilities where unaccompanied illegal immigrant children are held.

An estimated 43,000 unaccompanied illegal immigrant children were removed from the United States in 2007, according to the report. They were caught while traveling alone, or with siblings, other children or adults whom they may not know.

'Mixed up in something bigger than themselves'
Fifty to 70 percent of unaccompanied minors who appeared before an immigration judge last year did so without legal representation, the center contends. Sometimes, consulates weren't notified about the repatriation of children from their country, a violation of an international treaty, the report says.

"I would say ‘Imagine your 8-year-old daughter or niece in a country where they didn't speak the language, don't know the culture and were completely at the mercy of strangers. How would you want them to be treated?’ " Thompson said. "Children aren't capable of understanding international laws and boundaries. They're little kids mixed up in something bigger than themselves."

Some children flown to non-bordering countries were shackled during the flight and those taken by vehicle across the border to Mexico were transported in kennel-like compartments, the report says. Mexican officials reported that some children were returned in the middle of the night and brought to ports of entry that weren't specified in agreements.

In one interview, a 13-year-old girl from Mexico described being injured during her apprehension in the summer of 2007. She said she was tackled by a U.S. official she thinks was a drug enforcement agent. The agent apologized but refused to take off her handcuffs, the girl said.

After she was transferred to the Border Patrol's custody, the girl said she asked for a pain reliever because she had recently had surgery on her arm and the injury caused by the agent aggravated the wound. But Border Patrol agents refused to give her over-the-counter medication, she said.

When the Mexican consulate intervened, the girl was taken to a hospital. The medical attention she received there seemed to be geared toward responding to the possibility of an abuse allegation, according to the report.

As many as 15 different U.S. federal agencies can be involved in the apprehension and repatriation of an unaccompanied child, the report states. There are very few written guidelines for the treatment of those children, it says.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27713087/

"I would say ‘Imagine your 8-year-old daughter or niece in a country where they didn't speak the language, don't know the culture and were completely at the mercy of strangers. How would you want them to be treated?’ "

That would never happen to an American family because we care enough about our children to not put them in that kind of situation!!!!

Excuse me....Where are their parents???? so much for family values!

Aren't their parents looking for them???

I also do not believe ICE is mistreating children, unless you are considering 17 year old gang members children....hellloooo in Mexico it is legal to have sex with a 12 year old...more of those familiy values?

No one is to blame for the problems of these kids except their parents who violated the law to bring them here ILLEGALLY.

If you want to whine and complain about the way the kids are treated complain to their parents.

Let's cut the crap here, shall we? These people are NOT coming from war-torn countries, so spare me the whine.. Absolutely NO decent parent(s) would entrust their children to smugglers, so why would these illegal aliens parents do so? The lure of easy money is my guess.

I have ZERO compassion for anyone who would put their children in this situation. All these "unclaimed minors" MUST be returned to their countries.

In addition, how many of these IA "minors" are actually minors? They LIE about everything they can get away with, why not lie about their ages?

WHY DO WE KEEP AMERICANS THAT SIT ON THEIR ASSES ALL DAY AND LIVE OFF THE GOVERNMENT? IS IT BECAUSE THEIR GOOD OL CITIZENS? WELL IT SEEMS THAT MAYBE WE NEED SOME HARD WORKING IMIGRANTS TO GET OUR ECONOMY OUT OF THE SLUMPS SINCE THEY ARE SOME OF THE HARDEST WORKING PEOPLE IN AMERICA THEY ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE SOMETHING TO WORK FOR..

Well, GIO727, you ain't winning many points on this website. And who is the WE that keep Americans sitting on their asses all day, when most of the illegals live off the government by popping out babies every year, getting food stamps and housing assistance?
The lazy-ass Americans don't need illegals coming here taking advantage of our resources, like food and water.

DALLAS - U.S. authorities have compromised the rights and safety of some unaccompanied illegal immigrant children they have detained, and inadequate government guidelines are partly to blame, according to a Texas-based research group.

The blame lies with children's parents, country of origin, and Mexican government. They allowed these children to cross borders by themselves. Actually, they probably encouraged them. Now they want to gripe the US is responsible in order to gain sympathy and collect more US taxpayer cash. Also suspect an attempt at creating post-partum anchor babies. These kids weren't born here, but, gee whiz here they are and we can't really send them back so let's bring mom and dad here, all the brothers, sisters, etc etc. And by the way, where is the NCLR? Why aren't they raising hell about child abuse being perpetrated by the parents and the country of origin/Mexican government?

In one interview, a 13-year-old girl from Mexico described being injured during her apprehension in the summer of 2007. She said she was tackled by a U.S. official she thinks was a drug enforcement agent. The agent apologized but refused to take off her handcuffs, the girl said.


That's what she gets for running. News flash Nitwit: When a law enforcement agent in this country tells you to stop, you stop.

And I don't blame him for refusing to remove the cuffs. You proved beyond a doubt you couldn't be trusted.

After she was transferred to the Border Patrol's custody, the girl said she asked for a pain reliever because she had recently had surgery on her arm and the injury caused by the agent aggravated the wound. But Border Patrol agents refused to give her over-the-counter medication, she said.

Oh, arm surgery aggravaqted by apprehension, but not by a tough, strenuous journey through the desert, right? Save the bullsh*t story for someone who will believe it

As for the Border Patrol allegedly refusing to give her any medication.......they didn't refuse. Law enforcement is not permitted to give anyone ANYTHING. Ask a cop for a Tylenol sometime and see what happens. They will tll you they can't give it to you and ask if you think you need medical attention.

They aren't medics.

When the Mexican consulate intervened, the girl was taken to a hospital. The medical attention she received there seemed to be geared toward responding to the possibility of an abuse allegation, according to the report.

More BS!! Nothing like making it sound that the Mexican government had to force the US to give the brat medical attention. More like proper procedure was being followed.



When does this perpetual whining by people treated lower than dog droppings by their own governments ever stop?

Worse, when does the going along with it by Americans who know better, ever end? If these people are so anxious to do some good and assist those they believe need their help, then let them go to the home countries of these people and let them help there.

But they won't because they know their interference and radical conduct won't be tolerated anywhere else.

After she was transferred to the Border Patrol's custody, the girl said she asked for a pain reliever because she had recently had surgery on her arm and the injury caused by the agent aggravated the wound. But Border Patrol agents refused to give her over-the-counter medication, she said.

And WHERE did the 13yr old girl GET HER SURGERY? At an American hospital at our expense? I am sure that there are plenty of places to get pain killer drugs in Mexico.

This is the dumbest claim of abuse I've ever seen. Some dumb girl runs, gets arrested and demands that a BP give her medication. Hello, he's an arresting officer, not a medical professional.

As for the children going before a judge. It is a civil trial and no one has the right to an attorney. Their parents are despicable in my opinion. Anyone that would allow their child to travel like that is just trash and they don't deserve the blessing of children. Who ever those children were traveling to have already endangered their lives and put them in the position of breaking the law. Those children have neglectful parents, if you ask me.

Dixie