Posted on 06/10/2010 11:31:33 AM PDT by AuntB
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are preparing to roll out a series of changes at several privately owned immigration detention centers, including relaxing some security measures for low-risk detainees and offering art classes, bingo and continental breakfast on the weekends.
The changes were welcomed by immigrant advocates who have been waiting for the Obama administration to deliver on a promise made in August to overhaul the nation's immigration detention system.
The 28 changes identified in the e-mail range from the superficial to the substantive. In addition to “softening the look of the facility” with hanging plants and offering fresh carrot sticks, ICE will allow for the “free movement” of low-risk detainees, expand visiting hours and provide unmonitored phone lines.
ICE officials said the changes are part of broader efforts to make the immigration detention system less penal and more humane.
But the plans are prompting protests by ICE's union leaders, who say they will jeopardize the safety of agents, guards and detainees and increase the bottom line for taxpayers. Tre Rebstock, president for Local 3332, the ICE union in Houston, likened the changes to creating “an all-inclusive resort” for immigration detainees.
Other major changes include:
• Eliminating lockdowns and lights-out for low-risk detainees.
• Allowing visitors to stay as long as they like in a 12-hour period.
• Allowing low-risk detainees to wear their own clothing or other non-penal attire.
• Providing e-mail access and Internet-based free phone service.
Not about punishment
"It's not about punishing people for a crime they committed.”
Rosenberg said some of the changes, like new flower baskets, may seem small, but they will combine with the bigger changes to make a difference in the daily lives of detainees.
“Taken together they will go some way to making this system less penal,” she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
As long as there's a wet bar and live music, that's fine.
Perhaps so. It would keep our citizens safer though.
Look, we need troops on the border. And if needs be, it needs to go hot to put an end to this.
I’m not talking about your general crossers, but if the military wants to play, I say play and get this over with.
The United States must return to being seen to have a backbone.
Agreed
Ping!
A recent story about a wounded, disabled Iraq veteran who is being charged by the military for equipment he didn’t use...they are deducting $120 per month from his disability check...but giving goodies to illegal alien lawbreakers.
Memorial Day - How does the Military treat those who served?
http://towncriernews.blogspot.com/
Steam is coming out of my ears on that one...
Allowing low-risk detainees to wear their own clothing or other non-penal attire.
Oh merciful GOD! Give them bologna sandwiches and water 3X a day, limit their "stay" to a maximum of three days before shipping them back and there is no need for them to even have to have a uniform to wear.
Oh and in addition put revolving turnstiles at all those illegal corridors we’ve been seeing where the trash from their crossings is a foot high.
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