Title: Immigrant Families Behind Bars #42-09 October 21, 2009

" How cool this week count on making contact well my family's turmoil because they don't know the kind of achievement we get here. Immigration is the fastest growing form of incarceration in the US. With more than 30000 detainees behind bars on any given day."

" We have seen people who would be so hard against a cement walls that the law itself was bloodied when investigators went."

" Reports of rampant abuse and negligent medical care are widespread. And once again politicians. Lawyers and human rights groups are calling for comprehensive immigration reform. "

" It's not fear -- me to be --"

" On this edition we here's the story of an immigrant family torn apart after an immigration raid in Phoenix Arizona. And we report on a successful grassroots effort to change policy that had a family detention center in Texas. I continue -- and desist making contact program connecting people ideas. And important information. For decades Arizona has relied on the labor of undocumented workers. But recently. A new kind of crackdown on these same immigrants is tearing families apart and -- fear an immigrant communities throughout Phoenix Arizona. Millennia from now and this is a reporter with feed into world it's a project that brings the work of immigrant journalist a public radio. She tells the story of Kathy. Nine year old whose life was turned upside down after her parents were arrested during a workplace raid."

" It's. That he is an outgoing nine year old with an easy smile. She's looking at pictures of her family insider around straits -- in Phoenix Arizona. What are we documentary. Hat for us kind of here's -- seen in this pictures have me paying it's nice analysts. In many ways. That he is like any other acute care aides he likes playing with her cut scenes running around the RT even write stories about -- and means that says. But I like go to -- it's -- be using constant fear of being separated from her mum and dad. That's because both her parents are undocumented Ime grants. And one day this past June her worst fears came true. Both her parents were taken away after -- at their workplace. Copies -- on the new."

" Are we are told deputies from the miracle cashier's office they are currently ask Judy search weren't happy Lindstrom. And we -- to -- you know."

" I -- our -- is an extremely -- when it. Came and I heard something about the current Lakshmanan applaud in my room where. -- will steaming sacking Clark's funeral. Sub envelope -- game."

" More -- I want -- Cut these parents got those and Sandra had been employed at a local car was for the past ten years. They would have arrested and charged that using fake documents to get work. US loans sanctions businesses that hire undocumented workers. But Arizona police lesions and authorities. Have taken the Lowell a step further. Instead of sanctioning employers might Cook County sheriff door IU is going after the workers. Arpaio is known nationally for how in the latches -- of shape deputies trained to enforce immigration law. After. TB to defend the rest of copies mom and dad."

" I feel sorry for the a young girl. -- have to understand that she's a victim. Of her parents who have committed felonies."

" highest critics argue his arbitrary any -- tactics I make you know our friends attitude like that the since their appearance where wristed. She's been recruited to be an advocate. For -- key its face in the same situation."

" I had it."

" It's a hundred degrees and -- the -- of -- of children crowded asylum outside a jail in downtown Phoenix. They come together to match against. Some children like that he who have been separated from their parents. At the front of the marks activists on -- pleased that he's yelling need to remain a phone."

" I've got etc. I don't -- you don't."

" I don't have to -- what you don't know."

" This is with appointed movement. The group has criticized the -- that fixed for many years. One days at police and a growing immigrant groups is calling for the federal government to rebook an agreement it has with their highest office. That agreement gives state PP's sweeping immigration powers. Witnesses these results in racial profiling. And violating of people civil rights. Erisa claims Arpaio has been abused in state and federal laws. By going after undocumented workers who have committed no offense besides crossing the border illegally."

" But right here yeah here a lot of people. Are here only. Because they were working. Their families Hillary and here."

" The drift that -- at -- to speak to the crowd. And the shy she approaches the megaphone in front of reporters and flashing cameras."

" It's not family -- during. He can't he step a lot of people but. It's okay."

" That he often came to visit her mad at the -- in south Phoenix. These GAO was not designed to be an immigration detention center. But has served as wine -- The facility holds about a thousand women. Most have pretrial detainees. Accused of nonviolent crimes and related to immigration. I quite useful BC's foreseen that two wears -- black and white uniform and to be shackled. When she sees her daughter. God he is not allowed to -- but Thatcher mother -- And that breaks under his heart and a."

" Commandment -- eighth game. Everything he. It. What hurts me the most is that you're working -- you can use everything in second. On my family is in turmoil because they don't of the kind of treatment we get here and my daughter comes to -- she's nearly as. An."

" Sender and neighbors thought shape deputies will -- her workplace. Today of the -- she was vacuuming it customized car when dozens of deputies surrounded the car wash. My --"

" You only -- you into what OK well who's who really scared because I was thinking about my diner she was going to be left alone. Completely alone because both of us were working at the London moment."

" A good time our interview. Sandra had been in jail for two months. If you are undocumented in Arizona. There's no legal right to post bail. Well incarcerated. She was offering a deal to plead guilty to impersonating. A legal worker. It's similar to identity theft charges. -- crime designation now being used to send people back to Mexico with no hope of gaining legal status in the future. Sandra took the deal and doesn't know whether these will hurt her chances of gaining illegal status."

" I think and I think that punishing us a local back. That's what they think. But there's so much need the you look for a way to come back. Because you leave your country out of necessity. Not because you feel like it rooms in this as an portables."

" Sheriff Arpaio brag that his jails -- no walk in the park he says no meal cost the county more than 35 cents. But his stuff policies have cost you forty million dollars in settlements. Paid to detainees and their families over the years. He's jails and deputies are currently being investigated by the US Department of Justice. We try to get a statement from our high of thirty story but he declined our interview request."

" Flood sender and -- is saying -- of their family holds a car was to raise money to pay their attorneys' fees."

" And received their degrees Silva has been taking care cut while her parents has seen. Its Venus travel. She had to sell all of her dying in the very nature just the beta -- fees and to make the mortgage payment of their home. As for a copy teaches misses her mom and dad."

" I won't let -- It's not clear pretty good feel alone."

" I use of raids had affected hundreds of immigrant families. As every salt a grassroots movement in mayors of Phoenix empowering people to view -- raids before and after. -- you know small meeting grooming ferret plug infused with -- to Phoenix -- club Leeson who need it immigrant families to assess their means. The collision based training people to be -- in the event of another race. Cut these aren't -- is -- the quotation. She says Unita how to notarized letter the states who will take care of your children. In the event of Europe -- I guess that happened at a fat. And settle in and -- look at the US Lackey to have her expanded family take care of her. There have been other cases where children have had both parents -- rested and there's Nolan left to care for them. We got a letter is beating the cool little beer legal guardian of achievement the I had dreams of going in to this date Foster care system. Organizers like Sarah Michael -- are behind the effort to train these families to be prepared for the worst."

" The idea behind the coalition is to develop -- to constituency for what's happening rather than just have. Bunch of people out there talking about what's happening have people that it's really like. On the ground affecting all the time feel like they can do something about what's happening to them."

" But in copies case -- story for now has something a happy ending. Her mother was released after serving a ninety day sentence. And instead of being transferred to left that -- immigration detention center. Out -- I allow her to go back home. But ruining pending immigration Courtney. It's not really clear line immigration and custom enforcement or ice released Sunday. But some -- attorney believes her lack of -- criminal record and the fact she had a daughter to take care of played a role in her release. Whatever the reason she's home. For now. The days and -- came home. Family and neighbors gathered as sided trade there waiting for her. Cocky grin when she silica. There was hugging screaming and key thing as a family rejoiced in being reunited. They signed religious songs and -- in front of an altered to the voters -- eleven to."

" I mean not bad and."

" You don't -- he was nearly speechless this time. She was able to be -- again. It's. A YouTube. Heck yeah why do you think it happened this way."

" She got out -- sent. Her and he thinks that getting around. Amy he expects and I happened to me."

" Wow yeah yeah. Yeah it."

" A week later her father was transferred to the -- detention center in Arizona where -- responsible. Carlos was relieved after the family raise more than 10000 dollars in bail and now he's awaiting an immigration hearing. That's like cut these parents hope congress will pass immigration reform now. It could be the defense between being able to stay in the US as a family. Are being separated by the -- For making contact and the lady up but -- this Phoenix Arizona. "

" That report was produced in collaboration went feet -- two worlds a project of the senator for New York City affairs at the new school in New York. We'll be right back."

" You're listening and making contact mass production of the national radio had I. If you'd like more information would receive copies of this program please call 800. 5295736. You can also download programs for -- podcast at stadium project got alert."

" The immigrant family imprisonment policy at the T Don had a detention center thirty miles outside of Austin Texas has ended. Had to gain notoriety as a former medium security state prison. Converted to detain immigrant children when their families as they await immigration and asylum hearings. After years of lawsuits and public pressure the federal government recently announced it will no longer hold families there. Detained single immigrant women will remain. Correspondent -- passage has been document in the campaign to close titles since 2006. He has more on the successful grassroots effort that changed federal policy. Yeah."

" Almost every month for the past two and a half years these with a voice is that echoed outside the -- done -- immigration detention center in Taylor Texas. The diverse coalition of immigrant rights groups and concerned individuals have been holding protests and vigils outside calling for the and the family tension inside the prison. These actions and demonstrations have ranged in size from the -- to. To several hundred since the prison open in 2006. -- was officially called -- family residential center. But this is no kid friendly shelter. Immigration and customs enforcement -- had a private prison company to convert I don't from a for profit medium security prison. To a for profit immigrant detention center for families. These things awaited their immigration and asylum hearings to determine if they can remain in this country or if they would be deported. When it opened I don't had over 100 immigrant children to ten with their parents it was run like the former prisoner was. The detainees claim they were treated as criminals that know every single person was being held for civil not criminal violations. -- came equipped with -- cell door as prison uniforms and was surrounded by barbed wire fence when it opened. Before public pressure forced improvements. Conditions inside and we're very harsh with poor medical care and nutrition. Kenya prefers to use only your first name was teaching that -- for eight months."

" There -- physical more ethical when they know it yet I will say. Duke got what I am going to do with the new born your pupils -- Indies facing call I was so cold and there was seeing -- daily -- keep us in the brackets. I thought we look going to die from this situation room."

" Reliance on -- found that NN news. Denny was pregnant while she was detained with her two young daughters she fled with two of her children from under us from domestic and political violence. She sought political asylum when you cross the border pinching her family were sent to -- what they went to the asylum process."

" Are they tried to make -- Like on the you know."

" Well it's a pain in anticipation."

" That was Karen another mother -- Karen request my -- her own name just -- sort of new life after recently being released from I don't know what to what year old son after a month in detention. Karen for violence in South Africa can came to the US seeking political asylum."

" You 120. Heard dozens of it and -- you can marriage like you are that. Your involvement. And then LA but he could put that gay guy in my country. And do I see it could be so. What I expect it was like that actually meant I didn't expect to be up up. Is that it can't stand that they believe they let them encrypted now hole. Nothing when like no I'm not."

" Genuine care and stories are not -- mutual for the hundreds of families that were detained the -- and I don't were from over fifty countries from across the world. From the middle East Africa Asia Eastern Europe as well as Latin America. How there was just one of hundreds of jails and detention center as the ice uses to ten to 33000 immigrants criminal given day. But was only one of two to -- families and children. Michelle Browning director of the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children was one the first to investigate I don't think interviewed many in the families in the first few months it was open."

" And then we would hear from from parents who would tell us that their children weren't eating. That the children were losing weight isn't really a lot about the mental health of the people who -- there. There was a lot of anger and resentment and frustration on the part of children who felt that their parents weren't able to protect them and that is devastating -- for both parent and the child into the relationship and -- entire kind of cohesiveness of the campaign."

" Before huddle most immigrant detainees were immediately released if they were pregnant or had children with them. France as well that's the first -- to go inside I don't so she went to the jail when -- heard the news that a pregnant woman was being detained."

" And -- deal out there are asking them about the immigration she's and one of the questions I really need to ask. And they started telling me about the conditions and so individuals inside over the lens -- really stirred the campaign innocents because. They really hate. -- can't be here give me out here and this is why and the kids are getting sick and they can defeat and I -- the -- and -- separate listener named in the Ellis in the killing innocent humans to eat. My children and I really scared and crying. That's when you really is that you knew it this is a policy decision has hinted that this administration. And policies can be seen as do political activist and do public outcry. And that's they realized we need to get the public involved."

" Which started with a small group of protesters from Austin Taylor soon spread. The national media became aware and pick up the story."

" The treatment of immigrants brought out protesters and Taylor dozens gathered outside the teens on how to prison yesterday that."

" In 2007. As lawyers worked on lawsuits to close I don't advocacy groups and activists began holding vigils outside the prison. He spoke out a public hearings the protest -- outside its facilities in the offices of the private prison company which runs I don't know. Jose -- local face of the campaign close -- known for his warm smile and familiar blue pickup truck all the demonstrations. I interviewed in this house -- he was going through the diary he kept to document the campaign. He came across the first century when I walked to the person to bring attention to the first Mitchell."

" Curious yeah yeah yeah fairness. December that sixteenth. -- This is the first -- clipped out from the December. These pieces of -- war was still on. And I think that's when the lawyers for saying what we're gonna do it this way but you -- people protesting. You know you keep the heat on and will do it over here -- will need that we will start by unit from different. Parts in a different pieces and and hopefully we'll shut down to them I don't. And that became -- sort of around and cry about. Chip county on -- no protesters in taylors say there are now running out of steam anytime soon at one year since of course marks on the teed off -- Stanley detention center."

" After following and being involved in the campaign for almost three years I woke on the morning of August 6 2009. To unexpected news on the radio."

" The privately Ren T done header immigrant detention center in Taylor will no longer house families waiting for judgment and their immigration cases. This morning the US immigration and customs enforcement agency that."

" Well Honda will remain open to -- single immigrant women. I this is not transferred all of the families out. Those families that we're not deported have been released from -- what is called notices to appear before their immigration judges. Jose or taken."

" It was a victory but he was only a partial victory. We have won the war we won a little battle also we have got to figure out exactly. Creating new strategy in a new plan because ultimately we're off for immigration reform. And we're all for this you know stop being you know for profit prisons. But you know it's not something that's gonna be done overnight. -- huddle and mean it took to reach you through almost three years just to get them to realize that prison was no place for a child."

" As of September 22 2009. The last of the families have been released or deported from -- The struggle will continue on the outside who was able to remain in the US. But we scary and and his family as well as hundreds more will be able to eat walk and sleep as they choose. This is -- from central Texas. For making contact."

" Allison parker joins us now on the phone. She's the deputy director of Human Rights Watch is US program based in San Francisco. She has expertise in immigration law and you think restoration. Allison thank you so much for joining us."

" It's a pleasure to be looking at."

" Some reports say that on any given day there are more than 30000 immigrants in detention centers in the US. Some are asylum seekers victims of traffic -- survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence there are also many children. Why is all of this problematic."

" Well it's problematic because the cheaply describe our once has already been victims of human rights to be. For example of pounds seekers are people who are fleeing persecution in their home country. All aren't the people you've described are uniquely vulnerable such as children. What human rights law requires is that these populations should be detained only if it's absolutely necessary. And detention should really only be used as a last resort. And the other reason that the problem is that sometimes the experience of detention can actually exacerbates psychological harm that these people haven't heard previous to their time and attention. So it's really not a good idea."

" What are some of the more serious rights abuses faced by people in immigration detention centers."

" The rights abuses can really run again meant. We have seen in the past particularly after September 11 -- Actual physical abuse people who were beaten by guards in detention centers. In one instance beaten so hard against the cement wall that the wall itself was bloodied when investigators went in. They have also been instances in which female immigrants have been subjected to sexual violence. In detention. Other problems are more Hispanic and have to do with the fact that. In many cases immigrants are held in facilities that were intended to house people have been convicted of crimes. So for example state prisons and jail. The personnel who work in the facilities. Are familiar with dealing with people who perhaps have violent tendencies. And the facilities are set up to house people who have been punished. But immigrants are being punished. They are in some cases going through hearings about whether or not they have the legal right in the United States. But the treatment that they into her on the day to day basis. Is treatment that is much more punitive than what they should have given their status as people who are not criminals. Another set of abuses relate to the conditions under which their -- their need for her first content from medical care. We've seen in recent years. Literally hundreds of -- immigration detention because. They're just isn't enough attention being paid for the medical needs of the population past. And finally another thing that we've been researching -- Human Rights Watch is the fact that. Detainees are actually transferred. Between detention centers sometimes in the middle of the night. With no notice. And what this does is it separates the detainees from the community that you she used to live and and often separates them from their attorney from witnesses and -- case. And really make the whole process of their appearance in -- patient court extremely difficult. The deck is stacked against them. In the sense that they have no way to access their attorneys sometimes. No way to bring witnesses and and so these transfers between this vast network of centers across the country can really wreak havoc in and non citizens' rights. To have a fair -- court."

" So what are some pragmatic solutions and to Stanley detention tennis."

" There are many solutions that in fact some are already been used by the federal government. And all of the research that has been done on these alternatives to detention. Have shown that they have very important -- So in order to understand that we just have to take a quick step back and that is ask why are all these immigrants and detention to began. And the reason is because the government the United States government. Believed in each of their cases that for whatever reason and there are many reasons and our immigration laws these people. Don't have a legal right to be in the United States and that means that they have to go through immigration procedure. Where they may ultimately be deported. What the government -- is in order to ensure that these people appear at those hearings we have to put them in detention. Because otherwise. They will have an incentive to run away eclipse gone and to try to high. What alternatives to detention programs do is that they provide an incentive for the immigrant can show up. For his or her trial and court appearances. Some of them involved posting a bond so that the person has a financial incentive to come to the court proceedings. In other cases the government has piloted projects with community organizations. Who in some sense essentially sponsor that immigrant. Say we vouch for this person we will make sure that this person shows up at the trial and sometimes that means they provide transport. Well they just keep track of individual by requiring them to come in stop by their offices and report regulatory. What we've seen is that being projects are very successful. They guarantees that people will show up at their court hearings but they don't require costly incarceration. And so we believe these that the pragmatic solutions that should be put in place instead of the vast network of detention centers that currently exist."

" Allison parker deputy director of Human Rights Watch is US program thank you so much for speaking with us. Do you."

" Can't -- for this edition of making contact. Much appreciation to the onion foundation for funding for this program. Special thanks to -- two worlds executive producer John Rudolph. And producer Rene get talent for assistance when our first segment -- separated immigrant families. Thanks for listening to making contact."