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27 de Agosto, 2007
ACLU Challenges Prison-Like Conditions at Hutto Detention Center
Categorized under Derechos Humanos , Frontera | Tags: ACLU, Hope, Hutto, migra
From aclu.org:
On August 27, the ACLU announced a landmark settlement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that greatly improves conditions for immigrant children and their families in the T. Don Hutto detention center in Taylor, Texas.
The settlement was the result of lawsuits brought earlier this year on behalf of 26 immigrant children detained with their parents at Hutto. The lawsuits contend that the conditions inside the detention center violate numerous provisions of Flores v. Meese, a 1997 court settlement that established minimum standards and conditions for the housing and release of all minors in federal immigration custody.
Since the original lawsuits were filed, all 26 children represented by the ACLU have been released. The last six children were released days before the settlement was finalized and are now living with family members who are U.S. citizens and/or legal permanent residents while pursuing their asylum claims.
Conditions at Hutto have gradually and significantly improved as a result of the groundbreaking litigation. Children are no longer required to wear prison uniforms and are allowed much more time outdoors. Educational programming has expanded and guards have been instructed not to discipline children by threatening to separate them from their parents.
In addition to making those improvements permanent, the settlement also requires ICE to:
- allow children over the age of 12 to move freely about the facility
- provide a full-time, on-site pediatrician
- eliminate the count system which forces families to stay in their cells 12 hours a day
- install privacy curtains around toilets
- offer field trip opportunities to children
- supply more toys and age- and language-appropriate books
- improve the nutritional value of food
- ICE must also allow regular legal orientation presentations by local immigrants' rights organizations; allow family and friends to visit Hutto detainees seven days a week; and allow children to keep paper and pens in their rooms. ICE's compliance with each of these reforms, as well as other conditions reforms, will be subject to external oversight to ensure their permanence.
Despite the tremendous improvements at Hutto, the facility retains its essential character: it was a medium security prison managed by the Corrections Corporation of America, a for-profit adult corrections company. The ACLU remains adamant that detaining immigrant children at Hutto is inappropriate and calls on Congress to compel DHS to find humane alternatives for managing families whose immigration status is in limbo.
--From aclu.org
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Comentarios (9)
Rafael dijo:
Of course, Hutto should not exist in the first place, but these are steps in the right direction.
Palabras por Rafael spat forth on el 27 de Agosto, 2007 at 01:03 PM
Pat Logan dijo:
What kills me about this is that the children were threatened that if they complained, they would be taken from their parents. Which is what happened. I can't imagine how traumatic this experience must be for the ones that got out, not to mention the ones still locked in that hell hole.
Palabras por Pat Logan spat forth on el 27 de Agosto, 2007 at 02:24 PM
RC dijo:
Considering the list of reforms, the conditions that existed previously seem to have been violating the Flores v. Meese ruling with vigor. So doesn't any person or government entity suffer a direct penalty for this march back to Dickens?
Palabras por RC spat forth on el 27 de Agosto, 2007 at 04:55 PM
M dijo:
It hurts my heart that after all this time, this abuse was sanctioned by the government, and in direct violation of principles and procedures from another settlement -- but this is just one footstep in a series of steps to get rid of a prison system created for people because they weren't born here.
This country is just so morally ugly: its past, its present, and likely its future if the present course continues.
Palabras por M spat forth on el 27 de Agosto, 2007 at 07:01 PM
amanda dijo:
For a few seconds, I wondered the same thing as rc. But then I snapped back to reality, and realized there IS no accountability for people who abuse immigrants... That concept is not even recognized as logical by today's Amerika. They are criminal aliens, and if they are treated as anything close to a human being, it's because we are being nicer than we should. This is OUR country, they invaded, we captured them, and now they are our prisoners of war. You know what they say, "All's fair..."
Palabras por amanda spat forth on el 28 de Agosto, 2007 at 06:24 AM
RickB dijo:
I just see that picture and feel how clear it is, what a crime it is. I mean I don't feel it is really much more complicated than seeing her and knowing she should be out messing around, cylcing up the park, playing with her friends (then probably coming home to plead with her mum to let her friend stay the night and could they make popcorn to have with a movie they want to watch). And anything that gets in the way of that is wrong. (Unless it's High School Musical, again! I'm hiding that bastard).
Palabras por RickB spat forth on el 28 de Agosto, 2007 at 06:28 AM
Tom dijo:
It's good to hear about any small step.
Palabras por Tom spat forth on el 28 de Agosto, 2007 at 07:33 AM
chicago dyke dijo:
many of these children are US citizens, no? that's how i frame all discussion of these kinds of cases. because no matter how many are not, some will be citizens. to the wingnut, that is supposed to be some kind of Holy State of Being. of course, being brown negates those privs, but still- jailing children and citizens for the "crimes" of their parents practically defines "uncivilized."
Palabras por chicago dyke spat forth on el 31 de Agosto, 2007 at 08:38 AM
nezua limón xolagrafik-jonez
dijo:
yes, good points, CD. i guess i just see them as "children," even if not citizens. and putting children in jail is wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong. for any reason.
Palabras por nezua limón xolagrafik-jonez
spat forth on el 31 de Agosto, 2007 at 08:41 AM