Psyche, Science, and Society

Prison for the whole family!

February 10th, 2007

In order to make us safe, we now have a prison for the whole family!

For the very first time, Homeland Security officials allowed a public look inside a controversial detention center.

The media was invited to tour the T. Don Hutto Residential Center, at 1001 Welch St. in Taylor. The center is being investigated by the American Civil Liberties Union for alleged human rights violations.

What the media saw was exactly what the government wanted them to see, and nothing else. The tour was very controlled and lasted just over an hour.

Media personnel were not allowed to talk to any of the nearly 400 detainees accused of immigration violations, who represent more than two dozen different countries.

Of course, like all-to-many American prisons, human rights or any sense of decency are lacking:

Ironically, for the past week the American Civil Liberties Union has also been investigating the facility, claiming a hunger strike took place there two weeks ago and alleging inadequate medical care and inhumane treatment of children.

“Many children don’t fully understand why they’re even in here, they are not criminals,” ACLU staff attorney Vanita Gupta said. “These are not young children who have committed any kind of criminal act, these are innocent children who are now being incarcerated and treated like criminals.”

At present, the facility holds 375 people, more than 200 of whom are children.

But everything’s just fine. After all:

This facility is a new tool in America’s arsenal to fight the war on terror.

Don’t you feel safer that those young bomb-throwers are locked up?

Entry Filed under: Law, Public Health, Rights and Liberties, Social Issues, Terrorism