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Government Abuses in Immigration Enforcement: Is this the America We Want to Live In?Yesterday at the membership conference, the ACLU of Texas, ACLU of New Mexico, and ACLU of Massachusetts kicked off the morning with a deeply affecting plenary discussion about the real-life human impact of the government’s abuse of core constitutional principles in the name of immigration enforcement. ACLU clients, primarily young folks from Texas and New Mexico border towns, talked about the assumptions made about them and the law enforcement challenges they face simply because they are brown. One young woman from Texas, Luissana Santibenez, described her calling as an activist fighting for the human rights of immigrants locked up in detention centers in South Texas. Whole families, held only on charges of civil immigration violations, are kept in prisons as if they are convicted criminals. In one such detention facility, Hutto, the ACLU discovered that children ranging in age from just three months to 18 years old, were made to dress in prison garb, denied basic education and proper nutrition, and not allowed even to go outside and breathe fresh air for a month at a time. This led to a lawsuit against the federal government filed by the ACLU and other lawyers. Settlement of the Hutto litigation has compelled the federal government to change its standards and conditions for the detention of immigrant families. Vanita Gupta, an ACLU lawyer instrumental in the litigation, recalled one of the government attorneys in that case telling her, “you know, the ACLU is a real thorn in the side of DHS [the federal Department of Homeland Security].” She responded, simply, “Thank you.”James and David de la Torre, two 16-year old boys from New Mexico, shared a shocking account of local sheriffs’ deputies knocking on their family’s door at 5 am under the astounding pretense of delivering a pizza, and when that didn’t work, responding to a call of a faulty refrigerator, to get them to open the door, force everyone outside, and interrogate them about their immigration status. As a result most of their family members were deported, and James and David, both U.S. citizens, are the only members of their families left in the United States. It is almost unimaginable that local police and sheriffs could get away with these gross violations of the law and assume the powers of federal immigration agents. Even more outrageous is that these unlawful tactics do nothing to protect public safety or enforce criminal laws. Instead, they target Latino families who have committed no crimes, and tear them apart. The ACLU and Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALEF) jointly filed a lawsuit challenging these brazen immigration enforcement tactics. As a result, the Otero County, NM Sherriff’s Department agreed to settle the suit and change their practices. The Southwest border regions of the United States have been described by some as “constitution-free zones,” where Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable search and seizure, Fifth Amendment rights to due process, and Fourteenth Amendment protections of equal protection under the law do not apply. Today’s poignant stories help explain why. As one presenter at the conference posed this morning, “is this the America we want to live in?”
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17 Responses to "Government Abuses in Immigration Enforcement: Is this the America We Want to Live In?" |
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Jun 11th, 2008 at 9:13pm
THE ACLU IS GOING DOWN! THIS COMMUNIST ORG. IS ALL ANTI-AMERICAN AND WE DON'T NEED THE LIKE'S OF THIS HITLER ORG. IN AMERICA. THIS IS THE HOME OF THE FREE AND THEY WANT TO GAG THE FREE SPEECH OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
Jun 12th, 2008 at 1:46pm
ILLEGALS HAVE NO RIGHTS HERE, AS WE DO NOT HAVE ANY IN THEIR RESPECTFUL COUNTRIES. I BELIEVE IN THE RULE OF LAW AND THE GOVERNMENT MUST FOLLOW IT. IT IS ILLEGAL TO BE HERE WITHOUT PROPER PAPERS. AND WE THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA WILL NOT LET OUR COUNTRY GO BANKRUPT TAKING CARE OF EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING. WHAT PART OF ILLEGAL DOES THE ACLU NOT UNDERSTAND
Jun 12th, 2008 at 1:53pm
AND I AM SICK AND TIRED OF THE SAME EXCUSE THAT YOU MUST BE A RACIST IF YOU WANT BORDER FENCE SECURITY. WE DO HAVE LAWS ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED, SINCE YOU ACLU MEMBERS SAY THE LAW IS THE LAW. YOU PEOPLE MAKE TO SICK, GO AND ADVOCATE TO THE OTHER COUNTRIES THAT REALLY TREAT THEIR PEOPLE LIKE CRAP. YOU PEOPLE ACT LIKE AMERICA IS THE WORST PLACE TO LIVE AND IF SO MOVE THE HELL OUT OF THIS GREAT COUNTY.
Jun 12th, 2008 at 3:34pm
THERE IS NO ABUSE REGARDING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION SO QUIT LYING, ACTUALLY THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT DOING THEIR JOB TO ENFORCE THE 'LAW' WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROTECT OUR BOARDERS AS DO OTHER COUNTRIES AND THEY DO// AND I AM SO SICK OF HEARING FROM YOU FAR LEFT FREAKS THAT IF YOU DONT AGREE YOU ARE A RACIST. THAT IS THE ONLY THING YOU CAN SAY CAUSE YOU KNOW OUR LAWS ARE BEING BROKEN ALL THE TIME BY ILLEGALS. ONE QUESTION FOR YOU ACLU MEMBERS WHAT PART OF ILLEGAL DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND. YOU PEOPLE WILL BE THE DESTRUCTION OF THIS GREAT NATION.
Jun 12th, 2008 at 6:47pm
"knocking on their family’s door at 5 am under the astounding pretense of delivering a pizza, and when that didn’t work, responding to a call of a faulty refrigerator,"
I'm surprised they didn't try "land shark."
Jun 21st, 2008 at 2:40pm
Tina and C Milleri need to redirect their bad energies into something more positive or their lives will turn to something they will be less than satisfied with (if it hasn't happened already). Negativity attracts more of the same and these two are both in a very ugly, dark corner. You might want to become more informed on issues, that would help you to understand the true facts of the matter. We have had almost 8 years of steadfast and willful ignorance that has hurt this country for generations so a little honest investigation on your part would be helpful to us all, Tina and CM.
Jun 26th, 2008 at 10:27am
I don't like illegals here like any other American. The United States have laws here that protect everyone, illegal or not; that is why this country is so great. I'm a border agent. Im on administrative leave because i disobeyed an order given by management to remain in the field with detainees for long periods of time without bathroom breaks, food, and water. I did the right thing,the humane thing.I return to the station to process the detainees and to provide them a bathroom, food, and water. The next day DHS punishes me for it by taking away my badge and gun. DHS says that management didn't give you an unlawful order but i beg the differ. It was an unlawful order under the Constitution. A violation under the 8th amendment(cruel and unusual punishment) of the Constitution. I stand by my decision and other subordinates agree that i've done the right thing. I don't like illegals being here, but i do treat them with human decency. Im mad because my agency does not back their agents when they do the right thing. And I hope they do and do the right thing as well. Thank you.
Jun 26th, 2008 at 2:52pm
I am confused, the ACLU is a organization that is big on the law and the proper enforcement of those laws. They are usually first to file a motion if the government violates those laws......so why are they acting like the ILLEGAL immigrants are a protected class? Why are they willing to ignore the law when it does not suit their purposes?
Jun 26th, 2008 at 2:55pm
And to answer the question. I want to live in an America that follows the laws to teh letter, including the ones calling for the deprotation of those that broke them to get here.
Those famiies highlighted in this article can be assured of one thing. That they will not have to fear US immigration authorities' abuses back in their country of orgin.
Jun 29th, 2008 at 4:02pm
Its pretty pathetic that the aclu has decided to fight for people that are not suppose to be here. you will fight tooth and nail for the illegals in this country. They RAPE ,MURDER AND STEAL SS#from american citizens every day. Have you ever taken the side of the american citizen in any courts? We all know. the answer to that. I am a proud member of STOP THE ACLU, and i go out of my way to share with everyone that i know or dont know the truth about the UNAMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION.
Jul 23rd, 2008 at 12:16am
It does seem rather hypocritical for a nation of immigrants to become so up tight about the undocumented immigrants.
Jul 24th, 2008 at 12:51am
Oh wow Lynne, "They RAPE ,MURDER AND STEAL SS#from american citizens every day"..you really think the illegals are here to steal, rape & murder. Hell no they are here make life better for their families. Not all of them are saints but believe me neither are the American Citizens here. Just look at your government they are stealing from the American Citizens, take a look at your ecomeny, talk about pathetic. Please it's American Citizens like you that make me sick and sister I am an American Citizen. Why don't you try helping someone seomtimes, you might feel better about yourself.
Jul 27th, 2008 at 3:40pm
i did not say all are commiting crimes,so because some arent here to commit crimes its ok for the ones that do. i am from scotland, here legally, i had to sign a paper to say i would not become a burden on the american taxpayer i have not.my handicapped daughter walked down to the pet store only to be follwed by an illegal with his penis hanging out. i have been robbed by 3 illegals, 2 hit my car and ran ,no liscense, no insurance, maybe when you become a victim or your family you will change your mind. if we have enough of our own criminalls. why would we want more from anywhere else? tell me rose do you benifit somehow from illegalls?
Aug 23rd, 2008 at 5:11pm
Would all the Americans of European descent please return to Europe? The North American continent was never the Europeans' to start with, and the only reason you ever ended up here was by murdering the natives and stealing their land. All the people who are so hard on illegals are simply hypocrites as your own ancestors committed much worse acts than just crossing the border. It's so convenient that now that your ancestors finished stealing the land, they set up the rules on other people wanting to come to this land. This is a land of immigrants and it should be shared by all who want to come here, although I understand the immigration issue is much more complex than this. However, if you are so hard on the people who want to reside here because they don't belong here, you should pack up your own stuff and go back to where you came from because you really don't belong here either, unless you are American Indian. So your lack of sympathy for the illegals is just sickening.
Sep 4th, 2008 at 3:48pm
come here legally.
Sep 11th, 2008 at 2:07am
If you are entering the USA illegally, you have only ONE right...........to leave now!!! I am sick to death hearing about illegals having rights......what rights? You are here uninvited......get the hell out now!!! These sickening liberals and do-gooders should go live in their countries and try to make it nice enough for them to stay in their own countries and quit being a nuisance in the USA! The USA is not a 'do anything you want zone!!!
Oct 1st, 2008 at 10:49am
I'm amazed at all this hatred. I try to understand both sides.
Before I say anthing else, I am all for immigrants coming into the US and making a life. I am an immigrant too. They only want to be left alone.
Instead of being mad that they are coming into the country, you should be furious that the government has decided to "pick" up illegals and incarcerate them for long periods of time in detentin centers all over the state. The only thing that this is doing is using tax dollars to fund these places.
I say, if an illegal is going to be held. Please send them home quickly, Thats all they want. Dont be angered by a situation that you have no control over.
Send one illegal home today, five more come in tomorrow. "Quedate callado, tienes derecho a un abogado".
ACLU...the best!!