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Summary of talk:
·
Note that we are changing
terminology from “illegal” to “undocumented” immigrants.
·
The Tacoma detainment facility is the
only one in the Pacific Northwest and the fourth largest in the country,
holding up to 1575 peoples. It is run by a private corporation also responsible
for running prisons. Not surprisingly the detainment facility both looks and
operates like a prison.
·
The average stay is 33 days but 30-40%
of population will be detained there for 2 to 3 months. Some detainees remain
in the facility over five years.
·
Twice a week flights take detainees
to Mexico.
·
The cost of detaining an individual
is $122 a day.
·
70-80% of detainees are ultimately deported
·
90% of detainees are men
·
60% of detainees are Mexican and
another 10% are Central American
·
Immigration courts operate much
like criminal courts using a prosecution vs. defense protocol yet 90% of
detainees do not have an attorney.
·
Who is being detained?
-
Visa overstays
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Undocumented immigrants
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Lawful green card holders who have committed a crime
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US citizens who cannot articulate or prove they are US citizens. (This includes those with “derived
citizenship” who may have been born abroad but have a parent or grandparent who
is a US citizen.)
-
Refugees
-
Asylum seekers
·
What obstacles face detainees?
-
No right to government funded counsel. NWIRP is funded 50% by government and 50% by grants
from legal foundations of Washington State.
It is the only institution that provides this service. Four lawyers provide 4000 clients per year.
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Separation from family and support.
-
Language barriers: Detainees
have a right to an interpreter but there can be delays in providing one or the
interpreter my only act over the phone.
-
Lack of services: e.g., no
library, religious meetings, AA meetings.
·
What are the outcomes from detention?
-
Deportation (US pays for travel)
-
Voluntary departure (Mexico pays
for travel)
-
Pay Bond
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Paroled
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Asylum
·
Why has detention has become a part of
our immigration policy?
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To ensure that individuals show up
for court proceedings
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To deter foreign nationals from
coming into the US
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As a quick fix for complex
immigration policies
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To deal with a huge number of
immigrants
·
How have the costs of detention changed?
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The cost of
maintaining a border patrol
·
1992 = $326 million
·
2010 = $17 billion
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The number of Southwest border agents
·
2003 = 3,555
·
2010 = 16,974
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The number of undocumented immigrants
·
1990 = 3.5M
·
2008 = 11.9M
Thanks to all who participated and especially to Betsy Tao for
providing an informative talk, engaging discussion and for filling in as
speaker at the last minute.
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