The Latest Buzz on our New Immigration Detention Report

Here’s what the papers are saying about the report we released today, Jailed Without Justice: Immigration Detention in the USA.

USA Today: “Opposing view: We’re seeing progress” By Dora Schriro, special adviser to Homeland Security Secretary

I have learned that the best way to achieve change is to work closely with partners inside and outside of government, including vital organizations such as Amnesty International, which will issue a report raising concerns about immigration detention later today. I will carefully consider this important report.”

San Francisco Chronicle: “New report blasts U.S. on immigrant detainees

More than 400,000 people a year are detained by immigration officials in the United States – including undocumented immigrants, legal immigrants who run afoul of the law and asylum seekers who come fleeing persecution – but according to a report released today by Amnesty International, conditions are often deplorable and detainees are routinely denied due process.”

Bloomberg News: “Immigrants, Citizens Languish in U.S. Detention, Report Says” By Jeff Bliss

Amnesty International recommends that detention become a last resort and that authorities refrain from harsh restraining methods. The New York-based human rights groups also said Congress should pass legislation that would ensure immigrants have individual hearings to determine the need for detention.”

San Jose Mercury News: “Amnesty International lambastes U.S. for treatment of immigrant detainees”  By Ken McLaughlin

In a scathing report on the treatment of immigration detainees held in detention centers and more than 300 local facilities such as the Santa Clara County Jail, Amnesty International charges the federal government violates human rights by allowing tens of thousands of people to languish in custody every year without receiving hearings to determine whether their detention is warranted.”

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17 thoughts on “The Latest Buzz on our New Immigration Detention Report

  1. As a Native American I am sick and tired of people (whatever their reasons) crossing our borders ILLEGALLY to plop out their kids and call them citizens and demand to stay here ILLEGALLY to raise them. WHO DO YOU THINK IS PAYING FOR ALL THIS ILLEGALITY ? The legal citizens of this country are, in jobs lost to these Illegals, bulging classrooms filed with kids who don't even speak English who's families are taking housing assistance away from our citizens who have paid into the system and need help. They have filed our hospital emergency rooms with their runny noses and now the LEGAL citizens of this country have to wait hours to be seen by an emergency room doctor for a legitimate emergency. THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS who cross our borders by the 1000's every day have sucked the system dry. Hell they have turned California into practically a third world state with the never ending need for government assistance. I SAY PUT THEM ON A BUS FREE OF CHARGE WITH $1000 USD IN THEIR POCKET and SEND THEM BACK TO THE PLACE THEY CAME FROM. THE USA IS NOT THEIR HOME. IT'S MINE, AND I AM TIRED OF FOOTIN THE BILL FOR THEIR SORRY A$$ES.
    GO HOME, WE DON'T WANT YOU HERE. IN FACT WE DESPISE EVERYTHING ABOUT YOUR SORRY WELFARE A$$SES. THE USA DOESN'T NEED YOU OR WANT YOU HERE !!!!!!!
    When the policies of a super power country such as the USA are dictated by the poor then that country is no longer a super power, but a third world country and I'll be damned if I am going to sit by and idly watch that happen. If they want to be here then they can apply LEGALLY to be here just as everyone before them had to do. THERE ARE LAWS SIGNED IN TO DECLARATION IN THIS COUNTRY FOR A REASON……FOLLOW THEM AND YOU WON'T BE CONSIDERED A PROBLEM. APPLY FOR A VISA BY THE LEGAL MEANS AND REGISTER YOURSELF SO WE CAN DOCUMENT YOUR WHERE ABOUTS TO BE SURE YOU ARE FOLLOWING THE LAWS OF THIS LAND. IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT THEN GET THE HELL OUT !!!!!!!!!!

  2. I agree Steve. I'm also Native American and have gotten over the fact that we were invaded "illegally" and conquered. I accept and appreciate that people from other lands still want to come to the United States. We must look at the reason people come illegally – there are many. The process for legalization is so bureaucratic and intimidating (I have personal experience with a loved one) that I understand why people try to come illegally. The system promotes favoritism and it's disgusting. Do people know the government's goal for immigration cases is to find reasons NOT to allow people to stay here? They also spend tax dollars coming after American citizens who help those who do try to immigrate. Makes me wonder WHY people want to come here. . . .

  3. Something the article in the SF Chron doesn't cover is the average amount of time it takes for the government to go through the deportation proceedings. It mentiones 1.1 millions deportation proceedings and it mentions the cost is $90/per day for those held in detention. It doesn't note that the proceedings take months, sometimes even years. In the meantime, deportees are detained away from loved ones (even those whose only crime is to have entered the US illegally and committed no other crime) and often held with hardened criminals in prisons – at $90/per day. California is considering releasing even convicted criminals because the prison system is so over-crowded. It's partly over-crowded because of the immigration detainees.

  4. As a Native American I am sick and tired of people (whatever their reasons) crossing our borders ILLEGALLY to plop out their kids and call them citizens and demand to stay here ILLEGALLY to raise them. WHO DO YOU THINK IS PAYING FOR ALL THIS ILLEGALITY ? The legal citizens of this country are, in jobs lost to these Illegals, bulging classrooms filed with kids who don’t even speak English who’s families are taking housing assistance away from our citizens who have paid into the system and need help. They have filed our hospital emergency rooms with their runny noses and now the LEGAL citizens of this country have to wait hours to be seen by an emergency room doctor for a legitimate emergency. THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS who cross our borders by the 1000’s every day have sucked the system dry. Hell they have turned California into practically a third world state with the never ending need for government assistance. I SAY PUT THEM ON A BUS FREE OF CHARGE WITH $1000 USD IN THEIR POCKET and SEND THEM BACK TO THE PLACE THEY CAME FROM. THE USA IS NOT THEIR HOME. IT’S MINE, AND I AM TIRED OF FOOTIN THE BILL FOR THEIR SORRY A$$ES.
    GO HOME, WE DON’T WANT YOU HERE. IN FACT WE DESPISE EVERYTHING ABOUT YOUR SORRY WELFARE A$$SES. THE USA DOESN’T NEED YOU OR WANT YOU HERE !!!!!!!
    When the policies of a super power country such as the USA are dictated by the poor then that country is no longer a super power, but a third world country and I’ll be damned if I am going to sit by and idly watch that happen. If they want to be here then they can apply LEGALLY to be here just as everyone before them had to do. THERE ARE LAWS SIGNED IN TO DECLARATION IN THIS COUNTRY FOR A REASON……FOLLOW THEM AND YOU WON’T BE CONSIDERED A PROBLEM. APPLY FOR A VISA BY THE LEGAL MEANS AND REGISTER YOURSELF SO WE CAN DOCUMENT YOUR WHERE ABOUTS TO BE SURE YOU ARE FOLLOWING THE LAWS OF THIS LAND. IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT THEN GET THE HELL OUT !!!!!!!!!!

  5. I agree Steve. I’m also Native American and have gotten over the fact that we were invaded “illegally” and conquered. I accept and appreciate that people from other lands still want to come to the United States. We must look at the reason people come illegally – there are many. The process for legalization is so bureaucratic and intimidating (I have personal experience with a loved one) that I understand why people try to come illegally. The system promotes favoritism and it’s disgusting. Do people know the government’s goal for immigration cases is to find reasons NOT to allow people to stay here? They also spend tax dollars coming after American citizens who help those who do try to immigrate. Makes me wonder WHY people want to come here. . . .

  6. Something the article in the SF Chron doesn’t cover is the average amount of time it takes for the government to go through the deportation proceedings. It mentiones 1.1 millions deportation proceedings and it mentions the cost is $90/per day for those held in detention. It doesn’t note that the proceedings take months, sometimes even years. In the meantime, deportees are detained away from loved ones (even those whose only crime is to have entered the US illegally and committed no other crime) and often held with hardened criminals in prisons – at $90/per day. California is considering releasing even convicted criminals because the prison system is so over-crowded. It’s partly over-crowded because of the immigration detainees.

  7. This is a country that is built by immigrants. This land is rich and wealthy because of immigrants. Migration has always been a civil matter. in the last years people have been using the racial slur "illegal" but technical in ignorance they use it because migration is a civil matter. Most people use the term "illegal" out of ignorance because they hear other people use that term. But it was racists that started it. If you use that term please read your history books and see who you are following after; a bunch of hateful racist people that were looking for a way to slam migrants. The proper and correct term to use for a migrant that is here without authorization is "unauthorize migrant.' Remember migration is a civil matter and migrating without authorization does not make a person "illegal." Remember "illegal" is a racial term and if you use it, you will use it either out of hate or out of ignorance.

  8. This is a country that is built by immigrants. This land is rich and wealthy because of immigrants. Migration has always been a civil matter. in the last years people have been using the racial slur “illegal” but technical in ignorance they use it because migration is a civil matter. Most people use the term “illegal” out of ignorance because they hear other people use that term. But it was racists that started it. If you use that term please read your history books and see who you are following after; a bunch of hateful racist people that were looking for a way to slam migrants. The proper and correct term to use for a migrant that is here without authorization is “unauthorize migrant.’ Remember migration is a civil matter and migrating without authorization does not make a person “illegal.” Remember “illegal” is a racial term and if you use it, you will use it either out of hate or out of ignorance.

  9. Candice – People who come here on Government issued Visa's and then stay past their agreed upon terms are breaking the law. People who cross our borders under radar by means of tunnels, midnight moonless light nights and blind crossing, tucked in some dark corner, are doing so ILLEGALLY. My Mother is an immigrant and went through the pain staking effort to become a citizen. Why, because she wanted to live here and was not willing to break the law to do so. She learned the language and is a tax paying, productive citizen of this GREAT Country. Those are the element of people we want here, not the societal leaches. Not the ones who sneak in under radar, who create gangs, smuggle drugs and weapons. Not the ones who assume other people's identities fraudulently and suck the system dry, not for 1 year, not for 2 years, but for 20 plus years or even the rest of their lazy ass lives. They refuse to even make the effort to learn the language. Wake up and smell the coffee brewing sweetheart. They are here ILLEGALLY, therefore they are ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. Call it whatever politically correct term you want to make you feel better, so you can sleep at night. But I am calling an ace an ace and if you are undocumented then you are here ILLEGALLY. By the way, I bet you don't even have a job, are under the age of 30 and don't pay taxes do you? I can tell by your ignorance. If you saw your paycheck dwindle away in never ending increases in State, local and Federal taxes to support all these State and Federal social services, then you would be upset as I am. They want a piece of the American Dream, good for them. I am not opposed to that. But they need to work for it like the rest of had to do and are still doing everyday that we get up, go to work and are productive citizens of this society. The bottom is falling out of the proverbial basket and the ILLEGALS that are here sucking the system dry. They are the main leaches and culprits causing the problem that no one seems to want to address. They have created this scenario for themselves. No one put a gun to their heads, shackled them, as the white man did to the Blacks and told them they had no choice but to be enslaved. They have enslaved themselves by coming here on their own free will thinking they were above the law and are remaining in this country ILLEGALLY. I did not wake up this morning thinking of ways to be small minded with a limited ability to think and reason. I see what has happen to my beautiful state and I see it continue to decline exponentially everyday.

  10. Candice – People who come here on Government issued Visa’s and then stay past their agreed upon terms are breaking the law. People who cross our borders under radar by means of tunnels, midnight moonless light nights and blind crossing, tucked in some dark corner, are doing so ILLEGALLY. My Mother is an immigrant and went through the pain staking effort to become a citizen. Why, because she wanted to live here and was not willing to break the law to do so. She learned the language and is a tax paying, productive citizen of this GREAT Country. Those are the element of people we want here, not the societal leaches. Not the ones who sneak in under radar, who create gangs, smuggle drugs and weapons. Not the ones who assume other people’s identities fraudulently and suck the system dry, not for 1 year, not for 2 years, but for 20 plus years or even the rest of their lazy ass lives. They refuse to even make the effort to learn the language. Wake up and smell the coffee brewing sweetheart. They are here ILLEGALLY, therefore they are ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. Call it whatever politically correct term you want to make you feel better, so you can sleep at night. But I am calling an ace an ace and if you are undocumented then you are here ILLEGALLY. By the way, I bet you don’t even have a job, are under the age of 30 and don’t pay taxes do you? I can tell by your ignorance. If you saw your paycheck dwindle away in never ending increases in State, local and Federal taxes to support all these State and Federal social services, then you would be upset as I am. They want a piece of the American Dream, good for them. I am not opposed to that. But they need to work for it like the rest of had to do and are still doing everyday that we get up, go to work and are productive citizens of this society. The bottom is falling out of the proverbial basket and the ILLEGALS that are here sucking the system dry. They are the main leaches and culprits causing the problem that no one seems to want to address. They have created this scenario for themselves. No one put a gun to their heads, shackled them, as the white man did to the Blacks and told them they had no choice but to be enslaved. They have enslaved themselves by coming here on their own free will thinking they were above the law and are remaining in this country ILLEGALLY. I did not wake up this morning thinking of ways to be small minded with a limited ability to think and reason. I see what has happen to my beautiful state and I see it continue to decline exponentially everyday.

  11. I must say that it surprises me to see native americans having such hateful views of undocumented immigrants. But i guess if i was native american, i would not like any immigrants given the history. What's going on in this country with regards to immigrants is deplorable. From the Arpaio circus to the countrywide ICE raids to congressmen trying their best to stop any sort of immigration progress. Like Candice said, immigration violations are a civil matter and to persecute these undocumented people like Hitler would do is scary to me. One civil liberty violation on one person is a violation on all of us. The tone people take towards immigrants is downright ignorant. To call them illegal or criminal is wrong. If you think about it, the founding fathers founded this country by treason, followed by slavery and the oppression of immigrants and minorities later on. So are all americans criminal? Should all of us be called criminal. People say that immigrants are a burden on society, when they know damn well that immigrants are hard working and are self reliant. even living underground and virtually ignored, they still make it. I know more US citizen that are relying on the federal government to pay their everyday expenses by committing food stamp fraud, and leeching off of countless programs that undocumented immigrants are not qualified for. The thing is that whenever there are economic hard times, people like to blame immigrants for it, when this $hithole the US in in was created by the greed of AMERICAN and fully LEGAL banks and government (BUSH). But when the US is doing good, there are many of you that knowingly hire these immigrants to do your cleaning, gardening and other things that you are to lazy to do. To call immigrants lazy is flat out ignorant. Beacuse if you were to do some research, you will find that the statistics coming from our own US government, reflect that immigrants have a positive influence in our comunities. It's very easy when we are in the lap of luxury to criticize. I hate to see US citizens act like overgrown children when it comes to this issue. "no this is mine. Me first, me first". ridiculous. The majority of americans are pro-immigrants beacuse thay realize how important these immigrants really are, but the barking from anti-immigrants groups drown out the true pulse of the country. I'm glad to see the OBAMA administration finally starting to look at the immigration issue seriously. That's more than Bush ever did. Bush's solution. Lock them up and get them out. Attrition through enforcement is despicable. Like I said, if you don't mind a some people's civil liberties being violated, then don't be surprised if it spreads to more than just immigrants or alleged terrorist. And don't tell me that these ICE operations are keeping the country safe. Beacuse everyone of the 911 hijackers were here comepletely legal. They bought their way. Anyone with enough money can easily buy their citizenship in this country. it's all about money. believe me I know. I ahd to pay fee after fee when i was going through all that. Now that should be criminal.

  12. I must say that it surprises me to see native americans having such hateful views of undocumented immigrants. But i guess if i was native american, i would not like any immigrants given the history. What’s going on in this country with regards to immigrants is deplorable. From the Arpaio circus to the countrywide ICE raids to congressmen trying their best to stop any sort of immigration progress. Like Candice said, immigration violations are a civil matter and to persecute these undocumented people like Hitler would do is scary to me. One civil liberty violation on one person is a violation on all of us. The tone people take towards immigrants is downright ignorant. To call them illegal or criminal is wrong. If you think about it, the founding fathers founded this country by treason, followed by slavery and the oppression of immigrants and minorities later on. So are all americans criminal? Should all of us be called criminal. People say that immigrants are a burden on society, when they know damn well that immigrants are hard working and are self reliant. even living underground and virtually ignored, they still make it. I know more US citizen that are relying on the federal government to pay their everyday expenses by committing food stamp fraud, and leeching off of countless programs that undocumented immigrants are not qualified for. The thing is that whenever there are economic hard times, people like to blame immigrants for it, when this $hithole the US in in was created by the greed of AMERICAN and fully LEGAL banks and government (BUSH). But when the US is doing good, there are many of you that knowingly hire these immigrants to do your cleaning, gardening and other things that you are to lazy to do. To call immigrants lazy is flat out ignorant. Beacuse if you were to do some research, you will find that the statistics coming from our own US government, reflect that immigrants have a positive influence in our comunities. It’s very easy when we are in the lap of luxury to criticize. I hate to see US citizens act like overgrown children when it comes to this issue. “no this is mine. Me first, me first”. ridiculous. The majority of americans are pro-immigrants beacuse thay realize how important these immigrants really are, but the barking from anti-immigrants groups drown out the true pulse of the country. I’m glad to see the OBAMA administration finally starting to look at the immigration issue seriously. That’s more than Bush ever did. Bush’s solution. Lock them up and get them out. Attrition through enforcement is despicable. Like I said, if you don’t mind a some people’s civil liberties being violated, then don’t be surprised if it spreads to more than just immigrants or alleged terrorist. And don’t tell me that these ICE operations are keeping the country safe. Beacuse everyone of the 911 hijackers were here comepletely legal. They bought their way. Anyone with enough money can easily buy their citizenship in this country. it’s all about money. believe me I know. I ahd to pay fee after fee when i was going through all that. Now that should be criminal.

  13. I'm completely surprised at the polar opposites of the people that have replied. Immigrant as defined by Dictionary.com is a person who migrates to another country, usually for permanent residence. Webster's defines it as a person who comes to a country to take up permanent residence. In order to have a permanent residence in the U.S., you must have legal residence in the U.S. So, people who are here without a green card or a visa, are not immigrants. They are people that want to benefit from the generosity of this country. Unfortunately, California is completely out of money to support, not only those of us who have paid taxes into the system our entire lives, but also the illegals. I am not a racist, but I am a realist. I would love to be able to pay food for all of Africa and end hunger, but I can't. I don't have the money to do that. Why do we think our government has unlimited funds? I believe our state would not be out of money if either the illegals paid taxes, or if we had deported them and learned to live on the money we have and quit borrowing.

  14. I’m completely surprised at the polar opposites of the people that have replied. Immigrant as defined by Dictionary.com is a person who migrates to another country, usually for permanent residence. Webster’s defines it as a person who comes to a country to take up permanent residence. In order to have a permanent residence in the U.S., you must have legal residence in the U.S. So, people who are here without a green card or a visa, are not immigrants. They are people that want to benefit from the generosity of this country. Unfortunately, California is completely out of money to support, not only those of us who have paid taxes into the system our entire lives, but also the illegals. I am not a racist, but I am a realist. I would love to be able to pay food for all of Africa and end hunger, but I can’t. I don’t have the money to do that. Why do we think our government has unlimited funds? I believe our state would not be out of money if either the illegals paid taxes, or if we had deported them and learned to live on the money we have and quit borrowing.

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