Obama Orders Dance Classes, Movie Nights, and Bingo for Illegal Detainees
Chris Banescu
The Houston Chronicle reports that the Obama administration has ordered the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) department to implement multiple modifications to their facilities to make life easier, more comfortable, and pleasant for the hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants (approximately 400,000) it detains annually.  An internal ICE email highlights 28 different changes the organization will have to make to soften the look of its facilities, present a friendlier environment, offer better entertainment, organize fun activities, and provide illegal immigrant detainees with free access to email and phone services, as well as better dining and training classes.

According to ICE officials all of these changes are part of broader efforts supported by Obama "to make the immigration detention system less penal and more humane."  In reality, these changes are akin to "creating an all-inclusive resort for immigration detainees."

Some of the changes the White House is ordering include:

    * § dance classes
    * § movie nights
    * § art classes
    * § cooking classes
    * § tutoring and computer training
    * § free and unmonitored phone service
    * § free email access
    * § bingo
    * § arts and crafts
    * § more variety in dining options
    * § self-serve beverage stations
    * § fresh vegetable bars
    * § fresh carrot sticks
    * § hanging plants
    * § recreation in natural setting
    * § robust aerobic exercise


Also, ICE is expected to eliminate pat-down searches, lockdowns, and light-out for low-risk detainees, as well as provide vastly expanded visitation rights (up to 12 hours per visit) in its facilities.

The changes listed in the ICE e-mail are planned for nine different detention centers owned and operated by Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) across the country.  According to the Chronicle, some of the changes "will be implemented within 30 days; others may take up to six months"

Illegal immigrant advocates are thrilled at the required changes.  They have been advocating these transformations for years.  Lory Rosenberg, policy and advocacy director for Refugee and Migrants' Rights for Amnesty International was delighted with the promised improvements: "Many of these points are very important to changing the system from a penal system, which is inappropriate in an immigration context, to a civil detention system."

However, ICE union leaders are appalled at the cavalier attitude towards the illegal immigrants they oversee and warn of the inherent dangers of such misguided policies.  The officials are concerned the mandates will jeopardize the safety of their guards and agents, increase the potential for harm to other detainees, and cost the taxpayers more money in order to transform detention centers into an "all-inclusive resort" for immigration detainees.

    "Our biggest concern is that someone is going to get hurt," he said, taking particular issue with plans to relax restrictions on the movement of low-risk detainees and efforts to reduce and eliminate pat-down searches.


ICE leadership also expressed concerns about safety issues inherent in lowering security standards for almost half million detainees, many of which are violent and have gang affiliations.  Tre Rebstock, president for Local 3332, the ICE union in Houston explains:

    some detainees may be classified as low-risk because they have no serious criminal history but still may be gang members that "haven't been caught doing anything wrong yet."


    He also said eliminating lockdowns will make it more difficult to protect detainees from one another.

    He said reducing or eliminating pat-down searches could allow contraband into the facilities, including weapons.


These concerns are justified.  According to ICE's own report, as of September 9, 2009, 51% of the detained aliens were felons and 11% of the illegals had committed violent crimes.  The report confirms that most common crimes committed by criminal aliens are those involving dangerous drugs, traffic offenses, simple assault, and larceny.

None of this matters to the ivory-tower elitist Obama.  He condemned the people of Arizona for passing the SB1070 law that mirrors the US federal law on immigration calling it "misguided" and "irresponsible."  He has refused to listen to the American people, 73% of whom agree with Arizona and its stance on illegal immigration.  He stood beside Mexican president Felipe Calderon as he bashed Arizona and its people.  He then applauded Calderon's defamation of America, while Democrats in Congress cheered and shouted their approval.  He has refused to enforce our immigration laws and secure our borders.  He has continued to push for amnesty while a vast majority of the American people are against it.

President Obama wants millions more voters who support his radical leftist ideals.  Pandering to illegal immigrants, blaming America, and continually playing the racist card is how he can get there.  This is the Democrat's best chance to overwhelm the American electorate and they're going for it.  Damn the American people, full amnesty ahead!

Arizona is trying to pass a law to stop anchor babies

I condemn the shooting. But something has to be done on immigration in the US.

One of the border guards cracked because we are unable to enforce our laws and he was tired of seeing America being invaded on a daily basis because our Government won't enforce our laws while our elected officials give a standing ovation to the Mexican President in our Capitol as he slams Arizona's new law, or maybe not.
It's a shame all around and it will only get worse.

what would you do if 20 thousand people were crossing your border nightly, illegally?? that is a low ball est.

I've read the law, have you? It's available on google.

I don't think the kid deserved to die, but he is a victim of a much larger problem, and just a sad reminder of how fucked up the situation is on both sides... On the mexican side, he was most likely involved with a group that smuggled people across for money, and they were attacking and taunting the border agents... on the american side, they have alot of trigger happy scared agents trying to do an impossible job... i'm not really shocked this happened, i can't beleive it doesn't happen more often... look at what happened in mexico today a govt. convoy was ambushed and 10 officers were killed... with all the drug cartel mudering going on... shit... you don't think US agents and citizens are a on edge... if i was near the border, i'd be scared shitless and shooting people too... sounds like a kid who got mixed up with the wrong people... he wasn't just innocently taking a walk just a few yards from the border, let's be honest... why was he there to begin with? He was commiting crimes, in two countries!!! Even without looking at the immigration problem, the amount of murders in mexico, in border towns... this ain't a big deal... this was a mistake and hopefully we learn from it, but seriously... how many bodies are found in Juarez every morning?

Some Guy wrote on Jun 14^th, 2010 at 7:07am:

The Onion is one of my favorite newspapers too!

Ginda wrote on Jun 14^th, 2010 at 5:51pm:


some aspects are so complex and others so simple... wages and taxes being one thing that needs to be addressed... and employers need to be held accountable... I agree with Ginda 100%, all the people  I have met, working here illegally are great kind people, but they are still working and living here illegally, not paying taxes but enjoying many of the things those taxes pay for...
like I said before, this kid is just a victim of what really is a very large issue...

People are touchy about immigration. I live in Texas and am of Mexican-Amercan descent, so its complicated. Yes, it is a problem, but those who cross the border....
I'm not condoning illegal immigration, but its the savvy ones who do it.
I do have a problem with a kid getting shot because he's crossing the border. That's inexcusable. BTW, in Texas , there are groups who wear their racism on their sleeve with no shame....and its hard to separate the economic issue, which is a very real argument, to those who just don't like Mexicans, because they do exist and are very vocal.

I grew up in Pasadena, or Stinkadena, just outside of Houston, home of Gilley's and assorted serial killers, honky tonks, five minutes from NASA and Ellington Field.... etc....
It's nice to be from Texas, but everytime I watch "Last Picture Show", like last night, it makes you want to leave.

lotsajizz wrote on Jun 14^th, 2010 at 8:30pm:


Jeez, Lotsajizz, that's harsh. Why don't you start by just ploughing through that guy on the ice cream carts?

Same old story, immigrants are like drugs, the best way to solve the problem is legalizing and controlling them

On one hand is the result of the Mexican economy that is very uneven and as a sample today Carlos Slim met Bill Gates, now Carlos is richer than Bill Gates and on the other hand is also the result of the US working demand, labor is expensive hiring legal citizens and cheap hiring illegal aliens

This is Carlos with Bill… in the meantime we have thousands of people starving

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/media/ALeqM5ggfkn4JSius5LbGp7DLCs4wmGx2wsiz...
Trinidad Jimenez (L), shakes hands with Alberto Moreno (R) next to Bill Gates (2nd L) and Carlos Slim

Click the image for the news

I hope Barak and Felipe solve this problem the best way and I mean the whole problem not this innocent kid and many others that don’t make into the news

There's a video of the killing of this kid and another of one adult tortured and killed, both in one week. What is unacceptable is that there are people with a hubby "nigh hunting of illegal immigrants" that is really cruel and primitive