Thread: Shameful treatment at U.S. detention centers

Shameful treatment at U.S. detention centers
October 18, 2007

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti ... 69/OPINION

Sometimes an outside critic can best hold up a mirror to the U.S. government. We hope that this will be the case with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The commission is scrutinizing how immigrants are treated in U.S. detention. The image reflected thus far is shameful and appalling. Detainees suffer physical and sexual abuse, negligent medical care and a lack of access to lawyers and family visits.

The biggest concerns are for pregnant women, unaccompanied children and the seriously ill. Detention standards and a new law governing the treatment of minors have been in effect for more than four years, but these still aren't practiced as intended. Increased security and secrecy after Sept. 11 have made it more difficult than ever to hold immigration authorities accountable.

The commission does well to shine a light on the divide between what the U.S. government says, i.e., its good intentions, and what it actually practices. The huge increase in detentions in the last decade is all the more reason to worry. U.S. immigration authorities now hold 300,000 detainees a year, including 8,000 unaccompanied minors and asylum seekers who have been tortured.

Commissioners heard about poor medical care, which also was the subject of a congressional hearing last week. One horrible example was the death of the Rev. Joseph Dantica, a Haitian asylum seeker. He became ill at the Krome detention facility, received suspect care, and died at Jackson Memorial Hospital days later. His family wasn't even allowed to visit him.

Michelle Brane, of the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children, described detention centers for families that are based on a criminal model. Consider, for example, the T. Don Hutto facility in Texas, a former prison. There, she saw infants and toddlers dressed in prison garb. Children who cried or asked for more food were punished by being separated from their parents. Pregnant women went without prenatal care.

"There has been a disturbing lack of transparency on the part of the U.S. government with respect to detention facilities in general and particularly with the Hutto facility," Brane said. The facility denied entry to a special UN monitor scheduled to visit in May. What was there to hide?

Gary Mead, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official, testified that his agency does "everything possible" to treat children and families in the most humane way possible. The intent is good, but the results are abysmal. Immigration authorities should be held accountable for results, not good intentions.

-- The Miami Herald

Untill Americans are shown proff its all hear say

this article is suspect in the first place coming from the Miami Harold. Sexual abuse... I highly doubt that... not even for a minute... mothers and children seperated... no... actually from what I have seen they have play grounds.... prison garb for kids... I wanted to laugh, the Miami Harold is insain to even suggest it. There is an old saying, show me your proof

Actually I think a law suit demanding where they come up with this unbiased report (My A_S) is needed to substantiate they're claim.... if any of you have been to Miami ... well, it has become a 3rd world country and I wouldnt suggest it unless you are in a very large group and a way to defend yourself....

So Miami Harold.... take that garbage and go Austa La Bye-Bye back to your nasty city and try to figure out how to clean up your nasty streets

THEY WOULD NOT BE IN DETENTION CENTERS IF THEY NEVER HAD ENTERED THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY.