August 18, 2008 10:49 AM
The recent death of an immigrant in custody has highlighted one of the major problems associated with the vastly expanded ICE arrest and detention program. Over the last 10 months the number of immigrants arrested has risen dramatically, but the infrastructure for housing and caring for them has not. America's immigrant detention system has not kept pace with the heavy demand placed upon it by the Bush Adminstration.
As a result, very sick detainees are subject to inhumane conditions. The solution offered by Homeland Security to one dying man was to give up his legal right to appeal as the only way to get out of jail and receive medical care.
The deterioration of America's treatment of detainees is becoming a global embarrassment.