Agents Need Judge's Okay To Drug Deportees

(AP)  U.S. immigration agents must not sedate deportees without a judge's permission, according to a policy change issued this week.

Immigration officials have acknowledged that 56 deportees were given psychotropic drugs during a seven-month period in 2006 and 2007 even though most had no history of mental problems. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit over the practice

An internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo dated Wednesday and obtained by The Associated Press on Friday said effective immediately, agents must get a court order before administering drugs "to facilitate an alien's removal."

"There are no exceptions to this policy," said the memo written by John Torres, detention and removal director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

To get a sedation order from court, officials must show deportees have a history of physical resistance to being removed or are a danger to themselves.

"The directive is consistent with ICE's commitment to maintain safe, secure, and humane conditions for those in our custody," said spokeswoman Virginia Kice, who verified the memo's authenticity. "Medical sedation will only be considered as a last resort."

The ACLU sued the agency in June to stop the practice, alleging it could constitute torture and violates the Bill of Rights and federal laws regarding the medical treatment of detainees.

The lawsuit, which is still pending, came after a handful of immigrants in Southern California claimed to have been drugged while the government attempted to deport them.

Senate testimony last year revealed that 33 of 56 deportees involuntarily given psychotropic drugs had no history of psychological problems. They were given the medicine because of "combative behavior," said Julie Myers, assistant secretary of homeland security for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

[michellem99-2009]

Yes.

[kansas1946]

Not in one place did I see the words "President" or "Bush" anywhere in the artical. Just goes to show that the Paranoid Nut jobs are still running loose. (they are the ones who need the drugs, LOL)


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Posted by gunnerv1 at 08:18 AM : Jan 14, 2008
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So what you are saying is that Bush was not aware of what is going on in his administration.

**Senate testimony last year revealed that 33 of 56 deportees involuntarily given psychotropic drugs had no history of psychological problems.""

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This was "last year." Of course I know he never read a book or a newspaper, but you think news of this might have drifted by his office.

[kansas1946]

Senate testimony last year revealed that 33 of 56 deportees involuntarily given psychotropic drugs had no history of psychological problems. They were given the medicine because of "combative behavior," said Julie Myers, assistant secretary of homeland security for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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Good God. What is WRONG with this country. Has our government been taken over by sadistic sociopaths. This is disgusting beyond belief. I want our borders secured, and illegal immigration stopped, but this is horrible. I can not believe the level of immorality in this adminstration.

[inventagod]

Yet ANOTHER Chertoff wet dream realized...

[gunnerv1]

This competes with an "A" ticket at Disneyland

[klingon69]

These people come from the nation that is OUR neighbor to our south. We have a major PR problem here folks and it''''s costing us BIG TIME. We have NO allies anymore and THIS is the reason. The Fascist think they can let their cowardness show and no one will notice I guess. Deport them YES, drug them NO! America DOESN''''T do things like this... Well except for Southern Nazi''''s but they do not represent America.
Posted by skyk at 10:30 AM : Jan 13, 2008
And, if my neighbor ILLEGALLY entered my home, I would do whatever it takes to remove them. If that includes tranking them, then so be it.

[gunnerv1]

Not in one place did I see the words "President" or "Bush" anywhere in the artical. Just goes to show that the Paranoid Nut jobs are still running loose. (they are the ones who need the drugs, LOL)

[Krazcarl]

This whole theam is ridiculous we have feds out there druging folks with god only knows what antipsycotics is a lie it takes days before they show affect unless the dosage is near lethal think you''ll find thier high powered sedatives there playing some sick games here there is much more to this story we aren''t hearing come on CBS give us the scupe!!

[downsteamjim]

And leave you behind? God forbid. There must be some way to deport the likes of you. Hmm. You wouldn''''t mind taking some psychotic drugs would you?


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Posted by rudy654 at 08:39 PM : Jan 12, 2008

Put me down for two to Cancun. I''ll administer the rum and coke myself.

[michellem99-2009]

Bush is a man.. I don''t not address him as Mr. Pres.