Grassley concerned with changes to immigrant detention policy
By Jason Hancock 6/14/10 8:00 AM

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is taking issue with reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are planning changes at several privately-owned immigration detention centers aimed at making them more humane.

The Houston Chronicle broke the story that ICE would relax some security measures for low-risk detainees. According to an internal e-mail the paper obtained, those changes include eliminating lockdowns for low-risk detainees; allowing visitors to stay as long as they wish during a 12-hour period; providing e-mail access and internet phone service; and providing a unit manger so detainees have someone to report problems to other than the guard.

But other changes, including offering detainees art classes and games of bingo, are what has irked Grassley.

“Taxpayers will not tolerate Uncle Sam using their money to provide dance lessons and bingo to those who knowingly broke our laws,â€