Sunday, June 22, 2008

What Happens When One of the Pretty People Get Caught Up in the Immigration Raid-Detention Center Debacle?

Imagine you are Northern European, young, beautiful and caught up in a Detention Sweep? You are here on business, making a movie or parlaying stocks, and you had an oversight and your visa expires. Should you be caught up in sweeps? Should you be swept away to a heinous Detention Center along with the rest of the riff raff?
Here is just such a story:
Shackled, Detained, Deprived, Depressed: European Visitor meets ICE
In my recent columns a theme has emerged: how ICE, Border Patrol and other Homeland Security agencies have been criminalizing the immigrant population, from raids in Iowa's meatpacking plants to "Operation Streamline" in Brownsville. Yesterday I received a call from a colleague of mine, Caren Smith. She wondered if I would be interested in another little story about our bureaucratic, mean-spirited, governmental operations. "Surely," I said.
Ms. Smith, who is also the new president of the Unitarian Universalist Church in San Juan, got an email request from a Unitarian in Europe: Could someone contact a young fellow who is being held unfairly? He is in a Raymondville, Texas detention center, run by ICE (Immigration/Customs Enforcement). I interviewed Ms. Smith. Nick Braune: Yesterday you mentioned that this young fellow from Europe is an artist, travelling around the country to network with fellow artists.
Caren Smith: Yes, his name is Dutch [not his real name], and he's a 26-year-old who came here to travel and learn more about independent film-making. His visa had expired recently and he was intending to renew it when he was picked up in western Texas and shuttled to Raymondville early in May. Dutch was actually waiting for a check from home, as I understand it, to pay the fee to extend the visa. He was on his way to a youth hostel in New Mexico.
Dutch has been incarcerated now -- excuse me, they use the word "detained" -- since that time. Those of us at the church did not know him -- we only got wind of his presence in Raymondville from the Unitarian overseas who emailed me -- but our group wanted to help, so off we went from the church trying to at the least support this young man through visits.
Braune: I have protested outside that Raymondville (Willacy County) center several times, and last year there was a tornado of bad publicity about it: spoiled food, mismanagement, financial shenanigans, etc. But I've never been inside -- what's it like?
Smith: The visitation environment is utterly ridiculous: Dutch was kept behind a glass wall that holds a malfunctioning microphone -- it all looks like something out of a black-and-white film noir -- you expect Edward G. Robinson to appear any minute.
Braune: The glass wall separating visitors is more evidence that Homeland Security is off kilter. When someone is out of compliance on their visa, it has always been a civil offence not a criminal offence. These detention centers -- Raymondville's holds two or three thousand people at a time -- are not for convicted criminals or even accused criminals awaiting trial.
I remember the 1960s and '70s, when there used to be thousands of European young people traveling around the country. One would see them at tourist places and universities. Now apparently they are treated as criminals.
Smith: Yes, and it has really depressed Dutch, of course. He told us that when they took him to the airport, ICE officers had him handcuffed and foot-shackled. He had a visa, remember, and was simply late renewing it. He wasn't arrested for assault or accused of stealing something. He felt totally humiliated. My son, a Galveston Police Detective, once transported a murderer from Pennsylvania back to Texas for arraignment, and he did not shackle him in the airport. Trying not to draw attention to the convict, they purchased a sweat-suit top with a front pocket where he could hide the fact that he was handcuffed. This protected their mission from the press, the general public, and so forth, and the arrested party was respected as a human being.
Braune: Any other signs of mean-spiritedness?
Smith: Yes. Thanks for letting me vent. First, Dutch is discouraged and was supposed to have been sent home on June 18th -- he has a ticket -- but they have postponed it until they can have a marshal available to escort him. Second, Dutch's mother in Europe has been worried about his psychological state -- he is depressed and had a brother who committed suicide. Our fellowship includes one of the Valley's finest psychologists, who asked to visit Dutch, but the detention center has been stalling his visit. Why?
Third, despite filling out the proper forms, Dutch has not been to the library -- nothing to read for six weeks -- nor has he seen the chaplain. Fourth, we saw a sign, as we entered the Raymondville center, warning people not to come in if they were susceptible to chickenpox. (Exposure to chickenpox can severely affect the unborn.) We saw several pregnant women visitors, and we've heard that pregnant women are detained there.
Braune: Thank you. And I applaud your activist church group.

43 comments:

Anonymous said...

You can't access the link. I wanted to read the story in it's entirety for myself.

All I can say is that if the young man allowed his visa to expire, then it is his own fault. Why didn't he make sure ahead of time that he received the necessary monies to renew it? Whatever policies are in place for detainment under his particular circumstances, he will just have to deal with it. If he needs medical attention, then it will be provided to him.

As far as his complaints about the conditions in the detainment center, well we have heard them all before. I don't know of anyone who has lost their freedom in this manner who is going to compliment their surroundings so I take it with a grain of salt anymore. If enough people complain about the surroundings being inhame there will be an investigation. It has happened before.

Anonymous said...

Given the spirit of the Immigration debacle right now, this young man has many things going against him. He has overstayed his visa, he was caught prior to him attempting to re-new or lengthen his time here.

"A nonimmigrant temporarily enters the United States for a specific purpose such as business, study, or pleasure. When you entered the country as a nonimmigrant, a U.S. immigration inspector should have examined your passport and visa and then given you (or placed in your passport) an USCIS Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record). It is this record (not your visa) that tells you, in the lower right-hand corner, when you must leave the United States. You can prove you did not violate U.S. laws by turning in your Form I-94 to the proper authorities when you leave the country. If you want to extend your stay in the United States, then you must ask for permission from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before your authorized stay expires. Proof that you are willing to obey U.S. immigration laws will be important if you want to travel to the United States as an immigrant or nonimmigrant in the future. If you break immigration laws, you may also become subject to removal (deportation)."

His failure is 'HIS FAULT'. He should have made prior arrangements, he did not.

"Please note, you must submit the application for an extension of stay BEFORE your current authorized stay expires."

The laws are very clear, the lack of sight on behalf of the visa holder is their problem and nobody else's.


Our immigration laws state he can be held until his matter is solved. The problem that is being questioned is the conditions of the detention center, according to the fable. Again, look to the immigration laws to understand what has happened here, the conditions do not have to meet that of staying at the Holiday Inn, it is a detention center after all. It is no different then Juvenile Hall, the detention of children who seem to have issues with the law.

Anonymous said...

My Authorized Stay Has Already Expired (I Am Late Filing for an Extension)

If you are late filing for an extension and your authorized stay has already expired, you must prove that:

* The delay was due to extraordinary circumstances beyond your control;
* The length of the delay was reasonable;
* You have not done anything else to violate your nonimmigrant status (such as work without USCIS approval);
* You are still a nonimmigrant (This means you are not trying to become a permanent resident of the United States. There are some exceptions.); and
* You are not in formal proceedings to remove (deport) you from the country.


More information about his own negligence.

Anonymous said...

Just because the lad is from Europe (and not Mexico) he should receive special treatment. Give me a break. We have laws in this country and they are in place for a reason. I feel no sorrow for him. He should have paid more attention to the expiration date. Our Immigration Challenge is not a Mexican problem or a European problem - it is OUR problem and I am thankful some are finnaly taking it seriously.

Anonymous said...

I agree with everybody else. Surprised, Dee?

Dee said...

Must be your PC Pat
I access the link fine.

Dee said...

Of course the treatment should be the same for all people.

We all should be aware these private prisons are owned by GOP donors and the conditions are deplorable.

The good news about this is receiving plenty of media attention. The more people know about the crony owners and understand how deplorable the conditions are in the Detention Centers, the more opportunity there will be for change.

I feel change coming around the corner!

Anonymous said...

When I click on the link it says "you are unathorized to view this page."

The conditions in the detention centers are not deplorable. I posted an article dated in April of this year in here where many improvements were made and passed inspection. But it wouldn't matter if they were the Taj Mahal, pro-illegals would still complain because the bottom line is they don't want illegals detained. Admitting the truth will set you free.

Dee said...

Read the article. Read what happened to this guy. Read the articles I previously posted about the Canadian children.

Additionally, you must have restrictions (or problems) on your browser or privacy settings (internet options). I can pull up the article easily.

There have been hundreds of cases published about the deplorable conditions in the MANY detention centers around Texas and around the country. Because you read one article from your side doesnt make it so.

ultima said...

I wonder why if this is merely a civil offense that detention is okay, i.e. legal. Does anyone understand this? I assume that violation of immigration rules or overstay of visas provides an adequate basis for detention. The conditions in the detention facilities should not be subpar but I have a brother in a Veterans Home who constantly complains about the quality of the food and other matters. He is basically in a "detention" facility. Sympathy for those detained because they failed to follow the rules is misplaced. They can avoid detention easily by following the rules and acting like law abiding adults. We should not accept excuses.

Anonymous said...

Those "so-called" deplorabe conditions in the detention centers existed BEFORE the April article that I posted where improvements were made.

Anonymous said...

For the record, I too cannot access he site. It says I am using an invalid IP. I have never had that message before on any site???

Anonymous said...

Also for the record, I had NO issues with clicking and reading the link entitled: "Shackled, Detained, Deprived, Depressed: European Visitor meets ICE"

like Dee said, must be YOUR PC's

Anonymous said...

The link that doesn't work is "Texas Civil Rights Review." There is no link to click on to "Shackled, Detained, etc."

As you can see neither dianne nor myself are able to access it either way.

Anonymous said...

Is this supposed to be a photo of the detained "Dutch"? He looks familiar. He resembles either an actor or singer that I have seen before.

Texas Civil Rights Review? Sounds just like another ACLU group of which we know we can trust for "unbiased" info, right?

Anonymous said...

pat,

The picture is Ryan Gosling, an actor.
Just for the record, I think old, ugly, North European people who overstay their visas should be caught up in the sweeps just like the good looking ones. Doesn't matter what nationality you are-you should be detained and immediately deported.

Anonymous said...

anon, I wonder why this picture was used for the article? It wasn't the young man discussed in the article. I don't understand why the statement used was "what happens when one of the "pretty" people.... What has looks to do with anything? I am sure there are plenty of "pretty" people that are sent to detention centers if they are here illegally. I have seen many "pretty" latinos in my lifetime also. Sometimes I just don't get the insinuations and vague remarks made in here. Do you?

Anonymous said...

no pat, I usually don't.

Dee said...

Gee Pat, it looks like you are writing to yourself again. LOL.

Dee said...

As I said previously, the point in a "pretty picture" being used as a caption was to indicate -- as I said -- "Of course the treatment should be the same for all people."

We all should be aware these private prisons are owned by GOP donors and the conditions are deplorable.

The good news about this is receiving plenty of media attention. The more people know about the crony owners and understand how deplorable the conditions are in the Detention Centers, the more opportunity there will be for change.

I feel change coming around the corner!

Dee said...

Pat,
There is no problem with the Texas Civil Rights Review link. It must be your browser.
What Anon 1 was referencing is the title to the actual page: “Shackled, Detained, Deprived, Depressed: European Visitor meets ICE”
Try the actual link or googling this title. http://texascivilrightsreview.org/phpnuke/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1260
Otherwise, it has to be your own browser issues.
(or are you looking for excuses? or trying to blame the page.. always looking for some excuse rather than the facts!)

Dee said...

What the MSM doesnt report:

Texas Prison Bid´ness.
Local Private Prison and Detention Center Opposition Grows in Texas: In addition to opposition to GEO Group's proposed Laredo superjail and CCA's T. Don Hutto family detention center, several other communities in Texas took strong stands against private prison proposals. Among the local prison fights we covered:

Burnet County residents came out in mass to oppose a proposed private jail and detention center in Burnet, Texas, just northwest of Austin. Over 500 people, the vast majority opposed to the prison, turned out for a public meeting on the proposed prison scheme, which involved public financing for the Louisiana-based prison company Southwestern Correctional.
In Fannin County, Leonard residents organized opposition to a faith-based prison proposed by Correctional Concepts, Inc. Even though eight other communities have rejected CCI's proposals and constitutional issues make it questionable that the prison would gain government contracts, CCI pushed forward with its proposal with a representative of the county claiming Satan is "doing everything he can to defeat this project."
In December, Emerald Corrections, another Louisiana prison company, proposed a 1,000 bed detention center in rural Caldwell County. Residents of the area have organized against the proposal; we'll have an update on this jail fight soon.
Protests also occurred at existing private detention centers in Texas, including CCA's Houston Processing Center, where protesters chained themselves to the prison gates, GEO Group's Val Verde Correctional Center, named Texas' worst fall 2007 jail by the Texas Jail Project, and MTC's Raymondville "tent city" detention center where religious opponents organized prayers and protests on behalf of the immigrant detainees held there.

Dee said...

More on Private Prison scandals:

GEO Group Scandals: Several scandals surfaced during the last year that clarify why it is bad public policy to outsource incarceration to private prison companies. The Boca Raton-based GEO Group, in particular, had a number of scandals that caused the company to lose two contracts in Texas, and lead to a state-wide re-evaluation of prison privatization. Here is a run-down of some our previous coverage of GEO's problems in Texas:

Scot Noble Payne, a Idaho Prisoner, held in GEO's Dickens County jail, committed suicide. Mr. Payne's family filed a lawsuit against GEO alleging deplorable conditions and negligence. Idaho was forced to move its prisoners from GEO’s Dickens County lock-up after Mr. Payne's suicide revealed “squalid” conditions at the jail. Idaho prisoners formerly at Dickens have also being sent to GEO’s Bill Clayton Unit, which itself has seen escapes and disturbances by out-of-state prisoners upset at conditions.
The Coke County Juvenile Justice Center, a Texas Youth Commission (TYC), lockup was closed following reports of horrid conditions and sexual abuse. In fact, seven youth incarcerated at Coke County later sued the company alleging sexual abuse facilitated by a guard who was a registered sex offender.
GEO Group announced that it signed a contract with the Office of the Federal Detention Trustee for the development and operation of a 1,500-bed Detention Facility to house U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) prisoners in a "Laredo superjail." To build the 1,500 bed prison in the City of Laredo and Webb County, GEO president George Zoley traveled to Texas wielding $250,000 checks for both the City of Laredo and Webb County and did not leave empty handed, coming home with building permits and water hook-ups. Later, after public outcry, the city and county rejected the "donation," but the proposed jail continues to draw considerable controversy.
A GEO guard was arrested on felony charges earlier this year for for sneaking a bottle of MD 20/20 wine with two love letters taped to it under the fence of the Val Verde County Jail. Another guard was charged with federal civil rights violations for striking an inmate in the face in 2006 at the troubled facility, which was named "worst Texas jail" for the fall of 2007 by the Texas Jail Project.
Staffing problems continue to plague Pearsall. Limited staff increases safety risks and exposes guards and prisoners to abuse. Former prisoner, Miroslava Rodriguez-Grava, filed suit against GEO for mistreatment. Ms. Rodriguez-Grava is a legal permanent resident of Mexican descent who was held in GEO's Pearsall lockup, the South Texas Detention Center.
GEO hired former Texas Department of Criminal Justice head Gary Johnson to head its operations in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. A Daily Texan editorial reported that Ray Allen, former House Corrections Chairman, made $395,000 to $835,000 from lobbying contracts, including one with GEO Group, Inc.

Dee said...

Nashville Scene
6-19-08 Article

Federal authorities have castigated the publicly traded corporation for operating an immigration detention facility in Texas on the cheap. And at that CCA complex—which at one point forced children of immigrant detainees to dress in prison garb—dozens of incarcerated women and children have come forward with gut-wrenching tales of anguish and neglect.

http://www.nashvillescene.com/Stories/Cover_Story/2008/06/19/Locked_and_Loaded/

Dee said...

So much for your mis information about the heinous detention centers getting better Pat.

What you see in this bog is a pretty picture of someone receiving this same, deplorable treatment.

Yes, they should ALL be treated the same. However, no one should suffer the deplorable and heinous treatment as is currently the state of these crony, privately owned Detention Centers.

The sad thing is, articles like this draw attention because the "pretty people" are now being caught up in it.

Thousands have demonstrated in Texas against these prisons but articles are NOT written! Now one of the "pretty people" is incarcerated in the same manner, now the attention.

Now do you understand Pat?
(somehow I think you will still find an excuse!)

Anonymous said...

You are right dee, pretty should not have any advantage over ugly.
Visa overstayers(European, Mexican
or from any country should not have
any advantage over each other. Let's get rid of the detention centers and have instant deportation for one and all. But we have to include the millions who crossed the US/Mexican border
illegally-those must be included.

Dee said...

I agree we should get rid of the Detention Centers. They are crony owned private prisons that, in many cases, provide deplorable conditions to the "detainees."

The 2nd issue is Comprehensive Immigration Reform. I believe we need to change our current Immigration laws so we bring the 12M out of the shadows and bring those that are felony free into some Guest Worker (legal) status and then be provided the opportunity to get in line and apply for citizenship if they are interested and if they qualify.

We spend billions of dollars for these deplorable crony owned private prisons -- Billions!! This pay back to GOP pals has to stop!! They hurt us taxpaying citizens and they hurt those that are "detained" under those deplorable conditions.

Dee said...

We would also save multi millions on the money we pay to private, crony contractors like Blackwater. They are busy building "training centers" all over the country in hopes of serving as contractors providing border security.

Anonymous said...

If someone wanted to make the point that all detainees should be treated the same and I certainly agree with that, why are looks "pretty" brought into the picture? Is one trying to claim that the better looking ones are treated better? If so, I would sure like proof of that.

Anonymous said...

I am not making excuses for anything. If detention centers and jails need improvement, then so be it but what are you yelling at me and others for about it? We have never said we want these facilities to be abusive. You always rant and rant like it is our fault or that we have the power to do something about it. Those who claim they are seeing these things first hand need to let the authorities know about it so they can be corrected. Stop yelling at us about something we have no knowledge of other than "claims" and can do nothing about anyway! Why don't you go find yourself a punching bag rather than using us as one!

I still don't get what you mean by one of the "pretty" people. Who is that? Are you saying that prior to this young man's incerceration that only ugly people were being detained? Your rants and attacking those in our blog over it is getting ridiculous. We can't help you! Go to the authorities then!

ultima said...

Gee and here I thought only the Hispanic were subject to raids and detention. This isolated case may not prove the point but it does indicate that at least some ICE agents are even handed in their application of the law much to the chagrin of the bleeding heart liberals that are willing to sell out our country on the cheap to all comers.

Anonymous said...

Dee said...

As I said previously, the point in a "pretty picture" being used as a caption was to indicate -- as I said -- "Of course the treatment should be the same for all people."


It could also be used to say that, because of the immigration situation here, Brown, south of th border, Hispanic, Latin@, etc... is 'ugly', while White, European is considered 'pretty'. Nothing like playing on racism, too, I guess, right Dee?

Dee said...

Not what I said Liquid.
However, you do make a point. No attention is given to the Latinos in custody while this Northern European illeegal is getting plenty of attention.

Go figure!

Anonymous said...

Oh, I finally got it with that last remark. I should have known!

Anonymous said...

see dee, we antis are against all illegal aliens and all visa overstayers, not just hispanic ones but ALL of them. Does that make you feel less like antis are prejudice against hispanics?

Dee said...

Pat,
For you!

Anonymous said...

I am not pat as much as you are not "anon 1"

Dee said...

Well Anon, eblogger makes it very easy for you to a blogname (made up or real) for yourself so we can distinguish you from anyone else. How about it? John, Mary, Anon3, etc.

Anonymous said...

where's liquid, he's got a program that will prove it. He's got spy gear to check the IP addresses from every post with the details of their source(location). He's already proved to everyone that I AM NOT DEE!!! It's only ever you ANTI's that even come up with the idea that Dee has no support so she must post under anon 1 when in fact she's got TON'S of PRO support that rather not debate the issue on this blog. ANTI's tend to gang up on and backstab to win their arguements and PRO's tend to be the calmer nicer folk so there's less that post. But Dee (as she's states many times) has NO NEED to comment under anonymous. Only someone, VINDICTIVE, SELF-SERVING, IDIOTIC, JERK-LIKE would even do such a thing

Anonymous said...

2 different computers-2 different IP addresses

Anonymous said...

2 different locations-2 different cities. Posts nearly back2back from 2 different cities? Come on, I know you ANTI's stretch the truth but look at the facts 1st please. You got to admit to, those earlier posts by pat to anonymous and then Dee's comment right after that was pretty funny

Dee said...

Thank you Anon 1.
I know the truth hurts those that dont stick with the truth!!

Truth is truth.
Facts are facts.

Anon1 is Anon1.

And I always post as Dee.

I ask Anonymous to pick a name for himself and then Liquid can tell us about his IP address once and for all. Then no need to discuss any further.

Fair?

Anonymous said...

anon 1, that is utter BS! I have read many pro blogs and forums and the pro's in them are ten times more hateful than any anti could even dream of being. I would be glad to steer you in their direction for proof but you already know what I am saying is true.

In the Hispanic Forum it is the pro's who gang up on the anti's, including the moderators who shouldn't be biased, posting or taking sides anyway. Face the truth anon 1.

What have the pro's to fear by coming in to this blog and posting? They have dee to stick up for them. What are they afraid of? I'll tell you why they won't do it and it is because they know they are on the wrong side of our laws and they are unable to debate civilly.

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