immigrants

As of today there are about, 4000 immigrants lock up behind bars. Last year alone there were at least 30,000 new immigrants including citizens in detention centers at some time.  According to Amnesty International report "Jailed Without Justice" Immigrants are languishing under subhuman conditions there are reports from survivors of torture that these conditions are clear violations of internationally recognized human rights and they happening here in the United States. The five most popular ethic groups in these detention centers are Mexicans, Guatemalans, Salvadorans, Chinese and Filipino people; the issue of racism understates the horror of America's official behavior. International law is very clear even when you are detained that you are guaranteed protected and recognized human rights and these shall not be violated. In fact the human rights record of ICE is a national shame. Even using official US records over 80% of the immigrants in detention and nearly 60% of those deported had no legal representation. Clearly the right to challenge the arrest and detention and deportation decisions is openly violated. The formally authorized access to legal counsel, information, interpretations services and judicial review is openly denied. With arbitrary arrests and detention beyond any officially authorized or practical time period is common practice. Many Immigrants with strong legal grounds to be released are transferred to other jails without corresponding paper work. These jails, many privately owned, are located in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana who refuse to follow protected due process.  At least two thirds of the prisoners have no criminal records. Many have died in custody being denied even basic medical care.

Sources:

Amnesty International report "Jailed Without Justice"

Anthropology News vol. 52, N 2, Feb 2011

New York Times September 30, 2010, January 08, 2008, April 12, 2006,