Category: Uncategorized

The following items appeared previously at the site announcements section–gm

Thank you, dear reader, for helping to make this a wire story.–gm

Associated Press May 2, 2007, 7:30PM

DALLAS — A Palestinian man and three of his four adult children have been released from a West Texas detention facility, where they claim they were mistreated while being held in an immigration case…
[Attorney expects Ahmad’s release on Monday, May 7.–gm]

After Five Weeks of Vigiling, Dr. Asma Salam Praises God

(Photo by Trish Majors)

“I’m just so happy!” says Dr. Asma Salam over the telephone Wednesday night, laughing to the verge of tears. For the past five weeks she has kept a vigil for the freedom of the Hazahza family. See full story below…

On Telling the Truth to Yourself

When all is said and done, all resistance is a rupture in thought, through a declaration of what the situation is, and the foundation of a practical possibility opened up through this declaration.

Unlike what is often upheld this does not amount to believing that it is the risk, very serious indeed, which prevents a good many from resisting. It is on the contrary the non-thinking of the situation that prevents the risk, or the examination of possibles. Not to resist is not to think. Not to think is not to risk risking.

— Alain Badiou, MetaPolitics [p. 8]

Canto for a Cinco de Mayo Weekend

By Greg Moses

CounterPunch

Many call themselves philosophers, but who tells you one day “that you should eat nothing the day you are arrested” and then the next day that “children do not disturb thought.”

Who is this philosopher who runs the department of education for the revolution yet who never refuses a child to his study. The adults, of course, you have to keep away from the study. Their faces sneer why and what not, so you can’t work. But the children play with their own time.

Did the philosopher work near playing children when he spun a myth of the cosmic race, la raza cosmica, a new people of peace born from the rainbow reunion of earth’s scattered families come home to Aztlan, North America’s Southwest (and putting an end forever to little boy bullies who fight you the first day of school, the way they all fought the boy Vasconcelos on his first day at school in Eagle Pass.)

So the philosopher’s name is Vasconcelos, and the only reason you don’t remember him as long-time president of Mexico is because the question was never posed to the Mexican people. No, check that fact. The election was held, and Vasconcelos won big, but the New York press was in charge of announcing the results. So it never happened that Vasconcelos became the philosopher-president of Mexico. The Associated Press correspondent was sent in to secure the philosopher’s acceptance of the way things really are, but he chose exile instead.

“Why don’t these immigrants go back to Mexico and fix their own problems?” is a question I hear from very close sources lately. The life of Vansconcelos reminds us how busy the American Ambassador can be, getting in the way of the Mexican people. If Mexico had been left up to the Mexicans in 1929, para ejemplo, you could study the history of the Vasconcelos administration today.

The case is not so one-sided with Cinco de Mayo. I don’t know if you caught the quote from a right-wing think tank this week, responding to news that Mexican immigrants were singing the Star Spangled Banner in Spanish. “Would the French sing their National Anthem in English!” decried the distraught think-tank smarty-pants, just as Mexican people all over the world were preparing to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

On the one hand, it was ignorant timing to raise the spectre of French patriotism as all-American standard this week, since Cinco de Mayo celebrates the day that General Diaz pulverized an army of invading soldiers from France. Not to mention the lasting damage done to French standards in America by the right-wing “freedom fries” movement.

On the other hand, nobody at the table complains when a rash player tips his cards. Everybody else this week is trying to work out some kind of alliance “on the fly” between a quite impressive showing of immigrant activism and a generally dispirited homeland workforce that forgets to believe in anything bottom up. But not the think-tank boy genius! In response to yanquis and Mexicans in pairs, he plays the French for trumps!

Cinco de Mayo reminds us that there are times when the USA and Mexico actually sort of get together under the table, with yanqui moguls selling just enough hardware to keep the Mexican Army strong enough to, you know, protect the soft underbelly and all that. Try this structure of perception the next time you see a story about machine-gun-loaded Hummers on the “wrong side” of the Rio Bravo.

I know Richard Rodriguez has already thanked immigrants for cleaning the swimming pool, but I’d like to thank them also for trying to elect a philosopher president in 1929 and for defending themselves so well on Cinco de Mayo, Sept. 15, and 1910. Against the French, the Spanish, and homeland dictators, the Mexican people have fought hard enough to sing about red glare in Spanish. As for the yanquis, it would be better if their well-paid thinkers spent time putting the works of Vasconcelos into English. Viva Vasconcelos!

A response to Brad Carson’s “Democrats Must Fight Illegal Immigration” (no link).

I find the former congressman’s writing incoherent, possibly fascist; he admits that immigrant-rights Democrats offer genuine policy solutions “that are desirable and should be enacted at once” (as we’ll see below) yet he argues that Democrats should follow anti-immigrant Republicans because: “While the opponents of immigration no doubt include nativists and xenophobes, the vast majority of those who oppose illegal immigration do so on sound public policy grounds.”

Immigrant-rights Democrats have THE desirable policy solutions, yet instead of convincing more voters of this fact, the party should switch sides on the issue?
And the party should do this why? Because most
anti-Immigrant voters are able to articulate
non-racist motives? Huh? But what would be the real
motive for betraying a united labor policy?

In the end, the former Congressman offers a fascist gambit. The voters to whom you propose to betray your principles can articulate their reasons in non-fascist form, okay. But deep down you can’t say that these non-fascist articulations constitute your reasons for switching sides, because you’ve already stipulated that the side you are on already has the better policy formulations. But since you have been supplied with non-fascist reasons for doing the fascist thing, therefore you should do the fascist thing? Jesus.

A wedge issue is not “treating the EXPLOITED CITIZEN WORKERS fairly”. In fact, the formula serves as quite a slogan of solidarity, actually. The wedge comes when people claim that ALL exploited workers CAN’T be treated fairly because some are citizens and some are not.

For example, the former Congressman plays loose with the facts of immigrant impact in order to make the threat more vague than it has to be. The Dallas Fed has recently pegged the impact of immigrant wages to about 3 percent (or less).

For three decades the real wages of USA workers have been declining steadily, and there are overwhelming causes for this that have nothing to do with immigrants. For example, what do immigrants have to do with Texas Right-to-Work laws? With NAFTA? With refusal to fund a top-class school system? With outsourcing? With Wal-Mart’s falling prices based on globalized wages? Why have exploited CITIZENS VOTERS not been able to better secure their political interests in either of our one-party regimes since the 70s?

The wedge comes when instead of pledging to overcome a divide-and-conquer situation, instead of seeing in the immigrant-rights movement a possible source of solidarity vs. Republican lockgrip on labor policy, we start trying to figure out how to divide exploited workers from each other. The wedge comes when we don’t really mean ALL EXPLOITED WORKERS after all.

Here’s the passage where the former Congressman says that the real problem is Republican control of Congress and then argues that the weakness of the Democratic party would be a better guiding principle than rights for ALL EXPLOITED WORKERS:

“many Democrats are pushing an increased minimum wage or card-check unionization or – again – more funding for education. They argue that these policies would have a more direct effect on the incomes of
lower-skilled workers. And these policies might, in
fact, be sufficient to resist the effect of illegal
immigration, and, in any event,[QUOTE] all are
desirable policy and should be enacted at once.
[ENDQUOTE]. But there is no political consensus for
such policies, and it is difficult to imagine that the
Republican-dominated Congress would even consider
them. It is irresponsible to hold on to the illusion
of their possibility.”

So, the wedge comes when Democrats have more respect for REPUBLICAN CONTROL than for the principle of fairness to ALL EXPLOITED WORKERS. That is the wedge that divides exploited workers precisely at a time when the possibility of a strategic alliance looks most electrifying.

In sum, if there is a diagnosis of the former congressman’s logic, it is the plain logic of fascist nationalism. Of course, fascist logic can be quite popular among voters in the near term (have you seen film clips of those old Klan marches in DC?).

These are hard times in some ways, but they have been made just a little bit lighter by the immigrant rights movement, if we’ll figure out how to build some kind of alliance between ALL EXPLOITED WORKERS.–gm

The Texas Department of Famliy and Protective Services (DFPS) has exempted the Corrections Corporation of America from regulations pertaining to children inside the The T. Don Hutto prison for immigrant families in Taylor, Texas. In the following analysis, Sarah Boone looks at public records of the decision as shared in pdf format by San Antonio Current reporter Dave Maass.–gm

OVERVIEW OF HUTTO/TDFPS INTERACTION

By Sarah Boone

Thanks to two pdf files shared by San Antonio Current reporter Dave Maass [pdf1, pdf2] we have records of the following written exchanges between the T Don Hutto Family Residential Center Management of Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), The Williamson County Judge, and Texas Department of Family Protective Services (TDFPS) regarding whether or not Hutto should be exempt from TDFPS licensing:

• 4/17/2006 Letter to Williamson County Judge, with materials from handbook given to detainees and an outline of proposed changes to better accommodate detainees.
• 5/22/2006 Letter to TDFPS requesting exemption, including copy of contract between Williamson County and CCA, modified on 5/1/2006.
• 6/14/2006 Letter from TDFPS stating that Hutto did not fall under that agency’s licensing for day care facilities.
• 3/28/2007 Follow up letter from Hutto stating that changes had been made and again requesting exemption.
• 4/13/2007 Letter from TDFPS stating that Hutto still was exempt from TDFPS supervision.

In the 4/17/2006 letter, CCA management outlined the programs they were providing for ‘residents.’ In more than ten pages of information, the majority of which came from the ‘handbook’ that is given to detainees prior to their arrival at Hutto, I found numerous statements that contradict information gleaned through detainee’s conversations with their attorneys during and after incarceration.

1. Detainees will not need any money while at Hutto.

2. Phone calls should be limited to 15 minutes or less.

Detainees state that they must purchase a CCA telephone calling card for $20 in order to make calls.

3. Library materials appropriate for native languages, to
the greatest possible extent will be available.

This also has been repudiated by detainees, since ‘which’ nationalities, languages and
dialects are subject to constant change.

4. CCA envisions a tremendous array of indoor and outdoor activities
for juveniles and adults, including informal intramural competitions,
etc., incorporating the traditions of their countries.

A blatant lie. A map of the facility was in the packet. It showed no recreation room or designation of outdoor play or recreation area.

5. Information regarding free legal services is provided to all families.

Again, repudiated by detainees.

6. CCA is examining potential software-based-aids …..to assist
children with language and academic skills.

These aids were not available for nearly one year.

7. CCA will furnish living skills instructions to both adults and
children.

Repudiated by detainees.

8. Volunteer Services – TDHRC will reach out to area volunteers
to facilitate religious, recovery and cultural programs.

If no ‘outsiders’ are allowed ‘inside,’ how was this possible?

9. CCA’s experience has prepared it to interface with practitioners
of diverse faiths and traditions.

If this is true, why did Guards refuse to allow daily prayers by Muslims?

10. Programs: CCA will provide a broad array of programs due to
its familiarity with the needs of migrants and immigrants including
experience in operation of extensively programmed facilities.

CCA’s familiarity is with PRISONS, (that’s what an extensively programmed
facility is.) The ‘residents’ at Hutto are not convicted felons.

11. Hutto stated it intended to provide education for all children age 5
and over ‘who intend to enroll in school.’ English as a second-language
will be taught to all, along with arts, science, social studies and math.

Initially the ‘school day’ was supposedly 4.5 hours, during which time 11-year-olds
who spoke English fluently and whose entire education had been in the US schools,
were being taught one plus one equals two.

12. Adults were to be taught English in a format that was not dependent on
bilingual familiarity or instructor’s familiarity with the detainees’
native language.

This did not occur.

13. The proposed changes included changes that should have been made prior
to housing children and women at Hutto:

• Changing the facility from a ‘secure’ to ‘non-secure’ facility
• Providing stuffed toys and craft items for children
• Screening shower areas and having covers for cell doors
• Playground equipment
• Removal of razor wire
• Safety items, such as ladders, to access top bunks
• Additional portable classroom space
• Attorney-Client and family visits in accordance with pp 32 & 33 and Exhibit 1 of the Flores v. Reno settlement

We know that many of the above (along with other proposed changes) were not carried out until just prior to the ACLU/press tour in February, 2007.

14. A major proposed change was to provide palatable and nutritious meals,
age specific to children’s needs. A dining room was to be provided for
meals and special dietary needs by children and adults were to be addressed.

There is proof that many children were still loosing weight as late as February, 2007 and a personal conversation with a prior detainee revealed that there had been no real improvement in the meals since this letter was written.

15. The staff was to be trained in all applicable aspects of detainees’ rights under Flores vs. Reno as well as the rights and responsibilities of juveniles and understanding of children/youth lifestyle and culture.. Additionally, the staff was instructed that the parents were to be the primary disciplinarians and staff intervention was allowed unless ICE was first contacted – – unless ICE could not be reached. Only minimum force was to be used against children.

Children were being punished in the same manner as prisoners, by lowering of cell (room) temperature and threatened or real separation from their mothers. Additionally, the staff was instructed that the parents were to be the primary disciplinarians and staff intervention was allowed unless ICE was first contacted – – unless ICE could not be reached. Only minimum force was to be used against children. Note: we finally now see employees in ‘friendly’ polo shirts and khakis rather than ‘police’ uniforms.

16. The government is to provide juvenile case workers.

How is it possible for CCA to promise child case workers on one hand and to secure exemption from DFPS regulations on the other?

17. All employees will undergo the same background investigation as all other CCA
Employees.

Are there any additional safeguards for the children, i.e., no history of family violence?

18. ICE and the provider understand that due to the ‘urgency’ of making these changes that there was no time for research to see if Hutto is subject to regulation by any
loc
al, state, or federal agency.

This should have been determined before the lease was ever signed with CCA.

19. The ‘revised’ contract with Williamson County shows a MONTHLY payment
Of $2,801,643 for up to 512 detainees, or $5471.96 (if at full capacity) plus
A per diem of an additional $79 per person if there are more than 512.

ICE is paying $124,732 for medical expenses for up to 512, and $8.01 per
Day for each detainee in excess of 512. Yet, prenatal care has been minimal; mothers-to-be report that they are handcuffed and blindfolded for trips to the Round Rock hospital and then are cuffed to the examining table while there.

20. On an “Exemption Determination” Form submitted to TDFPS, it was stated that school Hours were to be from 8:30-11:30 and 2 – 4:30, with instruction for Pre-K through grade 12. The staff is to escort the children from their room (cell) to the classrooms. While in the classrooms the CCA Staff, including officers, teacher’s aids, coordinators and program facilitators will supervise the children.

How many children are in a class? Are the children grouped by age, nationality, or what/how? What consideration is given to their knowledge of English – – has CCA taken into
account that many have been in the US long enough to be fluent in English?

21. NOTE: we are now told that the school day is 7 hours in compliance with State of Texas regulations.

Why was it not set at 7 hours initially and how/why could TDFPS ‘approve’
a shorter school day for these children under the ‘no child left behind’ regulations
as well as under State of Texas regulations?

22. On June 14, 2006, TDFPS ‘approved’ the plan basically due to a parent always being present at the facility. On March 28, 2007, Hutto again asked for exemption based on the changes that they had made in the past year that include:

• Admitting that some families are detained for more than 90 days
• The school day has been increased to 7 hours, with 5 core subjects and
  two enrichment subjects (not described)
• The Pre-K program has been eliminated and children under age 5 remain
  with their moms during the day
• The only time children under age 4 are separated from their parents is
  in a medical emergency or when the parent must meet with an attorney
• Children now eat lunch with their peers, however following lunch, parents are
  allowed into the cafeteria to visit with their children.

It is appalling that the TDFPS cannot/will not/has not stepped in to demand that it be allowed to have at least one full-time employee ‘on-site’ to protect the rights of these children. Obviously the hundreds of thousands of dollars with which CCA and the other for-profit prisons have lined our office-holders’ pockets have bought silence.

SHAME ON THE STATE OF TEXAS!

Appendix: Texas Gives Chidren to CCA

In a letter dated April 13, a representative from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) waives regulation of children held by the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA).