one of the most horrifying articles I have ever read

[Laura]

I know some of you get Bender's so maybe you have read this already but if anyone is getting desensitized by all the horrible stuff happening to immigrants in this country, reading this New Yorker article (http://www.bibdaily.com/pdfs/New%20Yorker%20Lost%20Children%20Hutto%203-2-08.pdf) will probably make you feel horrible (and perhaps motivated to speak out?) about the state of the things all over again. I am sitting here reading this at work and my mouth is hanging wide open. It's long but once you get into it it's gripping, probably because what is described here is difficult to imagine occurring in this country.

[Chapital]

I couldn't make it through it...

[wanaads]

Thanks for posting that, Laura. It was indeed horrifying but I applaud the author for such a thorough investigation. We simply have to know about these things or how do we stop them?

[AGJB]

Cynthia Long's statements towards the end of the article really made my stomach turn. The children are confined and are definitely suffering. Does she think that they are in heaven and should be eternally greatful b/c they've been provided with an X-box and or Playstation?

What a bunch of knuckle heads.

[Laura]

Yeah, it's mind-boggling. It sounds like something that would exist in China or Pakistan or something (no offense to anyone from those countries, but you know, places that don't exactly have reputations for stellar human rights...)

I'm also particularly appalled by the fact that these contracted prisons are so secretive. I'm not saying everything should be run by the government, but shouldn't a private company running a government-funded/sanctioned detention center have the same level of accountability and openness to the public? I mean, these are asylum seekers, not terrorists, you know?

And yeah, all the disturbing stuff about the kids who have spent many months there, how they have a sort of detention/jail mentality... real frightening.

[jsierra1982]

it makes me sick that this is happening in my own country--and that it is one of those little well-kept secrets the governement seems to have. i'd like to get the word out about this somehow.

[tasksgirl]

I have barely skimmed it but I can only imagine what the rest of the article is going to say.. I am going to try and finish it when I have some time but all I can say is WOW.. it definately makes me angry..

[losguerra]

One thing that horrifies me is the idea of people who have no background in child psychology/development being in charge of the imprisonment of children. Regardless of whatever supposed "immigration crimes" the parents have committed, these children should NOT be suffering like this. And an institution that is imprisoning entire families must have procedures in place that protect the mental state of the most defenseless there, the kids.

I am becoming more and more disgusted by the US, guys. Its obsession with supposedly "protecting its citizens" has now turned so ugly that it not only destroys the lives of innocent aliens like in this article, but also destroys the lives of innocent US citizens, as we are all living out.

SOOOOOO frustrated right now. :(

[DeBenny]

One thing that horrifies me is the idea of people who have no background in child psychology/development being in charge of the imprisonment of children. Regardless of whatever supposed "immigration crimes" the parents have committed, these children should NOT be suffering like this. And an institution that is imprisoning entire families must have procedures in place that protect the mental state of the most defenseless there, the kids.

I am becoming more and more disgusted by the US, guys. Its obsession with supposedly "protecting its citizens" has now turned so ugly that it not only destroys the lives of innocent aliens like in this article, but also destroys the lives of innocent US citizens, as we are all living out.

SOOOOOO frustrated right now. :(

Well put, losguerra. I am not shocked that this type of prison exists. Recently, on the news they were discussing how a boarder state will now start to incarcerate illegal immigrants who cross the boarder into their state. This leading to formal deportations than just being thrown back.

[felixthecat]

I am sick to my stomach reading this.
This is so wrong.

I am going to try to get as many people as I can to read this.
It is hard...but we need to know this stuff!

[discoviking]

This is beyond disturbing. No child should be treated like this.

[IBMMuseum]

Yeah, it's mind-boggling. It sounds like something that would exist in China or Pakistan or something (no offense to anyone from those countries, but you know, places that don't exactly have reputations for stellar human rights...)

I'm also particularly appalled by the fact that these contracted prisons are so secretive. I'm not saying everything should be run by the government, but shouldn't a private company running a government-funded/sanctioned detention center have the same level of accountability and openness to the public? I mean, these are asylum seekers, not terrorists, you know?

And yeah, all the disturbing stuff about the kids who have spent many months there, how they have a sort of detention/jail mentality... real frightening.

Since there is also other camps I don't want to take anyone's steam away, but Hutto is due to close (thank God). I have contacts in other groups that kept up the pressure to force its closure. Support their voices to now go after the other camps, and get informed: http://hutto.galleons.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

[China]

OMG I cant believe what I am reading

[Emily]

that is indeed sad, and losguerra is right. To give authority to officers over children with no formal training in child psychology is mind boggling. why in earth is this happening in the us. Our country is going down the tubes. What ever happened to the land of the free, the land of the brave, the all American dream. whats happening to our country is just unsettling