Line Dance Steps

Before deporting illegals, shouldnt we treat them to dance classes, bingo, continental breakfasts, etc?

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, detailed in an internal ICE e-mail obtained by the Houston Chronicle, 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. “Our biggest concern is that someone is going to get hurt,” he said, taking particular issue with plans to relax restrictions on the movement of low-risk detainees and efforts to reduce and eliminate pat-down searches. The changes outlined in the ICE e-mail are planned for nine detention centers owned and operated by Corrections Corporation of America, including the 900-bed Houston Contract Detention Facility on the city's north side. Some of the changes will be implemented within 30 days; others may take up to six months, said Beth Gibson, ICE's senior counselor to Assistant Secretary John Morton and a leader of the detention reform effort. 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. • Providing a unit manger so detainees have someone to report problems to other than the guard. • 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 Gibson said the improvements are part of ICE's efforts to detain immigrants in the least restrictive manner possible while ensuring they leave the country if ordered to do so. “When people come to our custody, we're detaining them to effect their removal,” Gibson said. “It's about deportation. It's not about punishing people for a crime they committed.” ICE officials have faced pressure from immigrant advocates and some members of Congress to improve the detention conditions for the roughly 400,000 immigrants it houses annually. The agency has relied on a hodgepodge of more than 250 government-run detention centers, private prisons and local jails to accommodate its growing population — with roughly one in four detainees held in Texas. At the CCA facilities that have agreed to ICE's changes, detainees will see more variety in their dining hall menus and have self-serve beverage and fresh vegetable bars. CCA also plans to offer movie nights, bingo, arts and crafts, dance and cooking classes, tutoring and computer training, the e-mail states. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7043040.html I see no mention of soft serve ice cream machines. I mean, that exclusion is just barbaric

Public Comments

1. It would be cheaper and faster to just go after the source, the Americans that hire them.
2. Personally, I recommend branding and removal of a visible body part before they're deported each time.
3. Chain em all up on a tar-mac so they can awaot their military transportation.
4. Sounds really nice. I am curious as to how it will compare with a Hilton. If this keeps up I may impersonate an illegal immigrant the next time I want to visit Mexico and enjoy a relaxing few days at a spa and pool, get a massage, watch pay for view and let them bus me across to shop in TJ. I didn't hear whether they have king sized beds or an indoor pool. Do they have a brochure? I am glad that my tax dollars are going to create spas and resorts for the tiny percentage of illegal immigrants we actually detain and deport. Truth is I am impressed that they still catch anybody. I thought the policy of ICE these days was to prevent state law enforcement from bothering illegal immigrants. added: Another poster is correct that actually dealing with American employers might go far to solve this problem but when we suggest that someone usually runs for a rope to shut us up permanently. Its damn near Un-American to suggest actually punishing the Americans who hire the illegal immigrants.
5. i would op-out for a dinner and evening at the white house listening to obama rant on about how great of a job he is doing and how good things are now because of all his hard work!!
6. Continental breakfast? typical of this cheap administration!! They should have a full English breakfast, bacon, eggs, (fried, or scrambled) sausages, toast, juice, mushrooms, fried tomatoes, beans (french fries if requested) how can anyone be expected to put in a full day of fruit picking, avoiding law enforcement, human trafficking and drug smuggling, on a couple of croissants and a coffee?