Immigrants criticize mental health care for detainees

San Antonio Express-News ^ | 10/24/2007 | Hernán Rozemberg

[SwinneySwitch]

One was diagnosed with schizophrenia. The other was manic-depressive. But as far as the federal immigration detention system is concerned, the pair say, their illnesses were checked at the door.

The cases of two immigrants in South Texas reflect the systematic medical maltreatment detainees face across the country as the government rushes people in and out to save a buck by skipping treatment, said Javier Maldonado, a San Antonio immigration lawyer.

Maldonado is representing Miroslava Rodríguez Grava and Isaías Vásquez Cisneros, Mexican immigrants held at the South Texas Detention Complex, a 1,904-bed federal immigration prison in Pearsall.

Vásquez was released last year and since gained U.S. citizenship, while Rodríguez remains in Pearsall. Both were U.S. permanent residents when they were detained. Maldonado declined to discuss their felony convictions, which made them deportable.

Once in prison, their mental illnesses went untreated, according to a federal suit Maldonado filed last month against the GEO Group, the private contractor hired to run the Pearsall prison.

"It's a complete disregard for people with mental disabilities," he said. "They're doing nothing or very little for (detainees), in many cases leading to their deaths."

Mark Kosanovich, a San Antonio lawyer hired by the Florida-based company that manages about 50,000 prison beds in 18 states, declined to comment. His court response denied any wrongdoing and pointed to the government as responsible for detainee health care.

Maldonado said he eventually will include U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Public Health Service, which runs medical clinics inside immigration prisons, where more than 60 detainees have died in the past four years.

Public Health Service officials referred calls to ICE officials, who declined to comment.

At a congressional hearing this month, an ICE administrator denied accusations of poor treatment and said the death count is minuscule given the...

[SwinneySwitch]

"It's really worrisome to see all these reports," Florentín Meléndez, president of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights said by phone from El Salvador. "We're interested in making sure people are being treated well — they're human beings before they're illegals."

How well are they being treated in El Salvador, Senor Meléndez?

[SwinneySwitch]

“Give to mental health or I will kill you.”

If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.

[AuntB]

Anyone fleeing their 3rd world country, using smugglers, lying, cheating, stealing the entire way is bound to have mental health issues. A nice FENCE would stop all the complaints, and we US citizens might even be able to get into one of our hospitals when we need care.

WHERE’S THE FENCE???

[dynachrome]

WHERE’S THE FENCE???

Bump!

[dennisw]

Even the loonies know how easy it is to bust across our border

[doxteve]

“Even the loonies know how easy it is to bust across our border.”

And the loonies in congress and the Drive By Media make it easier and easier.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Most of what’s called ‘mental illness’ is of a spiritual nature.

And so is criminal behavior like coveting, trespassing and forging documents.

[AuntB]

So true.

[texastoo]

They hit the jackpot. ;Sue, baby sue.

Curious to know about their felonies.

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

>>Curious to know about their felonies.<<

Indeed! Why don’t they deport legal aliens who commit felonies? Why do we want felons for new citizens?

[dennisw]

Most of what’s called ‘mental illness’ is of a spiritual nature.

This can happen to people from any background but when I read about a Mexican drunk driver killing people. And he's outrageously drunk and on drugs too, what comes to mind is possessed

Drugs are worse but both can leave you defenseless against evil entities. 
Some people definitely want to be possessed so they get drugged up

[Chode]

GO HOME!!!

[archy]

"Give to mental health or I will kill you.”

Bang your head! Metal Health'll drive you mad!
Band your head! Metal Health'll drive you mad!

[abigailsmybaby]

These poor illegals! They should be deported immediately so they can return to receiving the mental health care that I’m sure they were receiving from their home country before they became lost and wandered into our country.

[stephenjohnbanker]

“How well are they being treated in El Salvador, Senor Meléndez?”

Not relevant, sir :-)

[norton]

I'd like to point out that no one is simply "staying in Pearsall" - he's staying in the detention center there, which provides an income for people caught between farming, suburbia, and the eastern marches of aztlan.

American citizens doing jobs mexicans won't do.

[Convert from ECUSA]

"Immigrants criticize mental health care for detainees"

Translation: So-called "immigrants" (aka illegal alien invaders) criticize anything and everything except for everyone in the whole damn country dropping everything to wait on them first, give them all the attention, extra privileges and perks, and catering to their spoiled damn brat demands like they were little Lord Fauntleroys. Throw them the hell out and start caring for citizens and legal immigrants who want to be Americans, not those that want to turn our nation into turd world socialist hell hole!

[gubamyster]

ping

[DumpsterDiver]

Anyone fleeing their 3rd world country, using smugglers, lying, cheating, stealing the entire way is bound to have mental health issues.

Not to mention having criminal issues.

Javier Maldonado, a San Antonio immigration lawyer, declined to discuss their felony convictions, which made them deportable.

[B4Ranch]

There is no joy in repetition.