Human Rights Violators

We are very aware of states that violate human rights, China's actions in Tibet, North Korea's repression, and various other countries that don't respect the basic rights of

their people.

But what about the US?

The United States of America was founded on the principal

that all people are created equally with certain unalienable

rights.

We view ourselves as a beacon to the world.

Organization of American StatesInter-American Commission on Human Rights

Article V. Right to private and family life

Article VI. Right to a family and to protection thereof

Article VII. Right to protection for mothers and children

Article XVII Right to Fair Trial

Article XXVI Right to due process of law

Summary: The deportation and detention process of the US Government tramples the rights concerning children and rights concerning legal process. A country that prides itself on rule of law can't behave this way.

Reference: Wayne Smith and Hugo Armendariz v. The United States of America (Case No. 12.561 and 12.562)

Why should we care?

Violating human rights puts the US at the same level as notorious violators.

These violations lead to not only social problems but are a growing financial burden on the US taxpayer.

Rights Concerning Children One or both parent's detention or deportation

irrevocably harms children:

Psychological: Abandonment, anger issues, anxiety, withdrawal

Financial: Housing problems, food insecurity

Parent's deportation a burden on US taxpayer:

Children typically US citizens or lawful residents

Become wards of state and placed in care

With loss of breadwinner children that stay with one parent often turn to welfare for survival

Long term impact on children's psyche, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Reunification often impossible

First six months of 2011, 46,486 undocumented parents removed with at least one US citizen child

From 1998 to 2007 100,000 such parents removed

17 children per day placed in state care as a result of detention/removal of parent

Rights Concerning Legal Process

Many international human rights laws ignored by US concerning immigrants:

Custody Assessment

Detention Review

Options for Release by an immigration judge

Many Due Process violations: No access to counsel No ability to challenge detention No access to healthcare Arbitrary detention/deportation Transfers to federal districts that are unsympathetic to

immigrants

Legal Process Statistics

84% of immigrants in detention and 58% of immigrants in deportation proceedings have no legal representation.

Since 2003 107 immigrants have died in detention.

Numerous lawsuits challenging use of shackling, attack dogs, solitary confinement, and lethal force

Legal Process: Transferring immigrants

First 6 months of 2008 53% of detainees were transferred once, 25% transferred multiple times

Most transferred to Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi – a federal court region hostile to immigrants.

Private Government contractors handle much of this workload (examples later in presentation).

Legal Process: Growth of Private Prisons

Private prisons are a $3 billion annual business in the US

½ of that related to detaining immigrants

Average cost to hold an immigrant in detention: $119/day

Prisons for Profit

Who Pays!?

You! (and me)

Where the Money Goes Corrections Corporation of America (CCA)

Largest private prison operator GEO Group

Second largest operator, with CCA control 75% of the market

Federal Prison Industries

$900 million/year revenue contracting out prison labor

Pay prisoners between 93 cents and $4 per day

Pocket the rest Private Prison Industry spends $45 million/year lobbying

Focus on lawmakers sponsoring tough immigration legislation (Arizona, Florida)

Outraged Yet? While human rights violations are deplorable,

money concentrated in a few private companies, doing a job that belongs to the government (the people) taking advantage of those with no voice (illegal immigrants) is criminal.

References

Pringle, Aubrey. “The Winners in Immigration Control: Private Prisons.” The Atlantic Mag., 28 Aug. 2013. Web. 17 Oct 2013.

Chiccol, Jessica E. and Kanstroom, Danile. “Brief of the Post-Deportation Human Rights Project, in support of the Request for Public Thematic Hearing Concering U.S Deportation Policy and the Rights of Migrants.” Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, 149 th Period of Sessions, 149th Period of Sessions, Boston, MA. Web. 18 Oct 2013.

Goodkind, Nicole. “Top 5 Secrets of the Private Prison Industry.” Yahoo Finance The Daily Ticker, 6 Aug. 2013. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.

Welch, William M. “Deportations Tear Some Families Apart.” USA Today, 5 Dec. 2011. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.

Yolshikawa, Hirokazu and Suarez-Orozco, Carola. “Deporting Parents Hurts Kids.” The New York Times, 20 Apr. 2012. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.

Muller, Robert T. “The Traumatic Effects of Forced Deportation on Families.” Psychology Today, 18 May 2013. Web. 22 Oct. 2013