Thread: TX: Striving to Satisfy Whiners

Education improves for detained immigrants
Civil rights advocate says deficiencies still exist at Taylor center.

By Juan Castillo

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF


Tuesday, March 20, 2007

The company that operates a family immigrant detention center in Taylor has increased daily education for children to seven hours, counting two hours of recreation and lunch as part of the program, a federal spokeswoman confirmed Monday.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Nina Pruneda would not disclose when the change was made at the T. Don Hutto Residential Center.

For months, detainees, attorneys and refugee advocates have said conditions at the facility are inhumane. One of the complaints was that immigrants were being denied adequate education. In January, the Texas Civil Rights Project threatened a lawsuit if officials did not increase education time from four hours to the seven required by state law.

Scott Medlock, an attorney with the Austin-based project, said Monday that education had improved in recent weeks but that deficiencies still exist. "What they're doing is satisfactory under the law, but not satisfactory under any other sort of standard," Medlock said.

The 512-bed Taylor center is one of two in the country that detains children and families while they await outcomes of asylum petitions or deportation. The center is operated by a private firm, Corrections Corporation of America.

Medlock said he and civil rights project staff members toured the facility about two weeks ago and learned that some instructors were not certified to teach English as a Second Language and that no preschool programs were offered for children younger than 5.

"There's some questions about whether or not their curriculum is up to par," Medlock said. He said the group hopes to continue negotiating with center officials for more education improvements.


jcastillo@statesman.com; 445-3635

For months, detainees, attorneys and refugee advocates have said conditions at the facility are inhumane. One of the complaints was that immigrants were being denied adequate education.

At least they're getting an education, unlike back home, where ever that may be.

Medlock said he and civil rights project staff members toured the facility about two weeks ago and learned that some instructors were not certified to teach English as a Second Language

What a rip off? You don't need to be certified in ESL to teach by IMMERSION!!! It's just another way to sap taxpayer dollars and suck up to foreign interests.