Endless Detention for Many Immigrants

Rep Lamar Smith (R-Texas) has this to say about the detention of immigrants across the US:

 “The Obama administration’s new detention manual is more like a hospitality guideline for illegal immigrants.  The administration goes beyond common sense to accommodate illegal immigrants and treats them better than citizens in federal custody.  The new detention manual contains extensive and customized details for each illegal immigrant’s stay, regulating everything from the salad bar to recreational activities to medical care.  Illegal immigration already costs American taxpayers billions each year and these increased regulations force them to keep an open tab for illegal immigrants. 

SOURCE:
Smith: Deportation Manual a Hospitality Guideline for Illegal Immigrants


Lamar Smith's misleading, cruel comments simply ignore the harsh reality imposed by the US on detainees.


If a government is going to detain people - including legal permanent residents - many awaiting administrative or judicial proceedings which could free them - the government must care for them.


Mr. Smith's broad, uneven, arrogant critique ignores the life-threatening medical conditions, which burden many detainees (as well as prison inmates). 


Mr. Smith takes no note whatsoever of the deaths of persons in US detention, including deaths occurring in miserably run state and local facilities, to which detainees are farmed out.


For  a fact-based look at the context which Lamar Smith ignores, see:

• Locked Up Without End: Indefinite Detention of Immigrants Will Not Make America Safer by Michael Tan, IPC Special Report, October 6, 2011.

• System of Neglect - As Tighter Immigration Policies Strain Federal Agencies, The Detainees in Their Care Often Pay a Heavy Cost

  
  
  
  
  
  

"I'm not necessarily buying into the predicate that it has to be paid for." Robert Ehrlich

"I'm not necessarily buying into the predicate that it has to be paid for," Ehrlich said. "I don't buy into the idea that when you tax a good or service at a higher level you're going to get more dollars because typically you're going to get less dollars."  -- Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. , responding to a reporter's question about how Ehrlich intended to cover revenues lost by his announced plan to reduce Maryland's sales tax. - Reported April 16 2010, by First Click - Maryland Politics (Washington Post) 


Candidate Ehrlich wants to tout a tax cut without having to explain where he would come up with the reduced income - or even if there would be a reduction - or even if there had ever been an increse in revenue since the sales tax was increased. Hmmm. 


Maybe he expects to garner votes in his third run for Governor of Maryland, simply for using "predicate" in a sentence . . . 

"BABY KILLER!"

Randy Neugebauer says he called out 'baby-killer' as Stupak spoke on House floor

Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Tex.) acknowledged Monday  [MAR22 2010] that he yelled out "baby killer" toward Democrats during debate over a Republican abortion amendment in the final minutes of consideration of health-care legislation. 

The backbench Republican from west Texas said he has apologized to Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), who was urging the House to vote down the amendment when Neugebauer made his outburst.

Neugebauer said Monday that the debate brought out too much passion in his disagreement with the deal Stupak struck with Obama and congressional leaders over abortion provisions in the legislation.

"In the heat and emotion of the debate, I exclaimed the phrase 'it's a baby killer' in reference to the agreement reached by the Democratic leadership. While I remain heartbroken over the passage of this bill and the tragic consequences it will have for the unborn, I deeply regret that my actions were mistakenly interpreted as a direct reference to Congressman Stupak himself," Neugebauer said in a statement. 

The outburst drew immediate shouts of derision from Democrats in the House, but no Republican took ownership for making the comment and Neugebauer's GOP friends declined to identify him Sunday night.

Washington Post

March 22 2010

By Paul Kane