Posted on 05/14/2008 3:53:34 PM PDT by SmithL
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Top lawmakers on the House Judiciary Committee are demanding more information from the Homeland Security Department about medical treatment provided to illegal immigrants detained in the U.S.
Recent news reports have detailed insufficient — and in some cases negligent — medical treatment for immigrant detainees over the past five years. The reports have sparked renewed interest in an issue that has been raised for years by human rights groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a California Democrat who has held one hearing on the topic, said details she has heard about detainees' treatment are "horrifying." It "fails to meet international standards, and it makes me quite ashamed," Lofgren said Wednesday. She is the chairwoman of the Judiciary's immigration subcommittee.
Congress is considering several bills that call for improvements in detainee conditions and would require more accountability from the Homeland Security Department. For instance, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, a Connecticut independent, reintroduced a bill this week that he proposed in 2006.
Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, the Homeland Security agency that oversees immigrant detentions, disputes many of the allegations laid out in the news reports, including a four-part Washington Post series that concluded Wednesday.
That agency spends $100 million a year on detainee health care which is twice as much as it spent a few years ago, ICE spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said. Since ICE was formed in 2003, 71 people out of 1.5 million have died in its custody, she said.
"Every death in custody — any death in custody — is a regrettable, sad occurrence," Nantel said. "It is not an indication of a broken system."
Lofgren disagreed, saying, "ICE has a veracity problem.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Hispandering PING!
I testified before this committee last year. Remember Luis Guttieriz is on it. When we (the folks testifing for law and order) spoke, they were busy picking their noses and scrathing their asses, literally. They could have cared less about what we said.
Personally, I think the treatment of Ramos and Compean is horrifying.
The treatment of American taxpayers is horrifying!!
We’re sunk. I am no longer surprised at ANYTHING I see or hear.
The article says that there are 300,000 illegals that go through the system annually and cites one example of cancer not being detected after a guy was detained for a year.
Anybody know how long is the average deportee detained?
Why would someone be in custody for a year?
Send them home with Laughgren.
Sad to see illegals, even incarcerated illegals, get better care than Americans.
Typical Washington drones - they are simply parroting to (or perhaps they are acting in coordination with) the sensationalist series this week in the Washington Post on the exact same subject.
I'm just guessing here but I'd bet real money that this Zoe Lofgren woman has some serious lawn care service and doesn't want to have to pay any more for it than she can steal from my wallet.
Some California Congresscritters should be "outlawed". She's one of 'em.
ICE and CBP/Border Patrol can’t place illegal aliens in most local jails around the country.
Reason: They don’t meet the DHS standards for immigration detention.
That’s right: The local police and county jails are perfectly ok to house you and me or any other US Citizen and meet all national certifications and standards but illegal alien detention must meet a higher standard.
I am not kidding and its why there is never enough available bed space.
If a criminal alien is released from a county jail after serving his sentence and turned over to ICE/CBP/Border Patrol they have to be immediately removed and placed in an “approved” facility pending their removal hearing.
And don’t even get me started on the “standards” for illegal alien juveniles.
LOL! Oh, this is going to take awhile...LOL! BAWAHAHahahaha.... Oh God.
The ACLU is now a human right group! - LOL!
It's probably better than the reject medical personnel that work for the feds. Just give them whatever the hell meds they want while they are in custody. If they need lots of morphine or whatever, load them up until it's time to ship them back. If they have dental issues, get the dentist to extract the affected teeth. Just get them through the system and out as quickly as possible.
bttt
I once saw Guitierrez (a PUTO Rican, not a Puerto Rican!) coming out of Boogie Nights when I was living in Chicago all those years ago. Seemed a little, uh, light in the loafers. Maybe he identified with Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s character in the movie.
Most are detained for very short periods, deported to Mexico. Those from other countries a little longer to make arangements for them to return to their country. Some countries don’t want them back so that can be an issue with long term detainees. All must be positively identified too, and some have issues proving who they are.
The worst part of this is our returning servicemen from Iraq are in barracks that are many times worse condition than these alien detainment centers. Our priorities are a mess!
http://towncriernews.blogspot.com/2008/04/shame.html
Average time in detention is 22 days; some demand court hearings and appeals which can also keep them long-term in detention.
China and a few other countries refuse to accept their citizens that are detained. Some countries won’t take their people back if they have committed a felony here. Nice-huh?
ping
It’s the vanguard effort for the McCain National Healthcare initiative. If it passes for illegals held in detention, it will certainly work for the ones who aren’t.
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