Detention In America

60 Minutes And The Washington Post Report On Detainee Medical Care

(CBS)  Since 9/11 there have been a lot of changes in how the United States deals with immigrants. One of the biggest is the explosive growth of a system of immigrant detention centers that few Americans know anything about.

Immigrants who come into the country illegally, or refugees who apply for political asylum, often go into detention, some for many months. Before 9/11, about 100,000 detainees went though the system each year. Today, with stricter immigration rules, that number has tripled to more than 300,000.

The surge appears to have overwhelmed the medical care provided to the immigrants.

Now, a Washington Post investigation, joined by 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley, has found evidence that immigrants are suffering from neglect and some don't survive detention in America.

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In 2004, United Nations troops were fighting militant gangs in the streets of Haiti. Eighty-one-year-old Reverend Joseph Dantica, a Baptist minister, saw his church ransacked during the unrest, so he fled to the United States and asked for political asylum. His niece, Edwidge Danticat (her last name is spelled differently than her uncle's) says he was taken straight to a U.S. immigration detention center.

"He was essentially arrested?" Pelley asks.

"Yes. I consider it an arrest," Danticat says. "Because …he had to ask for special relief for him not to be handcuffed. And they did allow him that, but told him that if he ran, they would shoot him."

Rev. Dantica raised Edwidge in Haiti; she moved to the U.S. at the age of 12 and grew up to become a prize-winning author. Danticat's recent book, "Brother, I'm Dying," recounts her uncle's ordeal.

She was waiting for him in Miami.

Asked what she was thinking when she heard her uncle had been detained, Danticat tells Pelley, "Well, I was horrified. Eighty one years old and, after the ordeal that he had been through in Haiti, I worried about his ability to handle that."

Records show that two days later, during an asylum hearing, he became violently ill and collapsed. A detention center physician's assistant failed to recognize that Dantica was in serious trouble.

"Help me understand from the records that you've seen precisely what the medic said about your uncle and his condition," Pelley asks.

"It appears that he said, 'I think he's faking,' or something to that effect," Danticat says.

It took four hours to get Rev. Dantica to an outside hospital. His family wasn't allowed to see him. In a day and a half, Rev. Dantica was dead. The medical examiner said it was pancreatitis.

Asked what she was thinking in that moment, Danticat says, "Just a series of things.”

Crying, she continues, "Of course, you know, a great deal of sadness because he died so alone."

"He died without his family," Pelley remarks.

"Yeah. And after being treated like an animal," Danticat says. "Someone who was just trying to escape horrible things, who was so old and sick. Just had to die that way."

But in one sense, Rev. Dantica was not alone: he's among hundreds of sick or dying detainees inside 22 detention centers, plus some 350 state and local jails. The federal lock-ups range from a former warehouse in New Jersey that houses 325 people, to a desert facility near the Mexican border.

The centers are run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known by its initials "ICE."

Inside the detention centers, medical care is provided by another federal agency, the Division of Immigration Health Services, or DIHS. Reporters Dana Priest and Amy Goldstein of The Washington Post have been investigating DIHS.

"This is not just some deaths or just some sick people anecdotally. If you take them all together, they show poor medical judgments, faulty administrative practices, sloppy paperwork, lost medical records and very dangerous staffing levels," Priest explains.

Priest, who contributes to 60 Minutes, and Goldstein have obtained thousands of internal DIHS documents. They include investigations, e-mails, autopsy reports and complaints.

What sort of a picture did the documents paint of how DIHS is working?

"They show a bureaucracy that offers many immigrants no care or slow care or poor care," Priest says. "And they also show that the employees inside are panicked about this."

[ex2583]

If the treatment the detenees is not adaquete and they have come here to seek a better life, allow us to as taxpayers contribuite to their bus/train or ship ticket home. We certainly do not want them to think America is a capitalistic country not a socialistic country, oh was I rude, did I hurt their feelings, Too bad, leave if you do not like the country that you are seeking aslyum from, I am sure we could find another illegal that would be happy to take your place

[sugarchaser]

yall are just worried about the illegels what about the people that was born here who has a serious illness and no health care? the goverent dont care about us....send the illeels back and help your own!

[sustainable4]

Not only does this CBS report ignore consequences of mass immigration, it also goes to lengths to provide selective perception of immigrant impacts. For example, the prison system of this country is increasingly and heavily impacted by immigrants and immigrant crime. In 1980 federal and state facilities held fewer than 9,000 criminal aliens. By the end of 2004, that number jumped to 267,000, about 27 percent of all prisoners. In a 5/7/08 article, "Better Health Care Sought for Detained Immigrants," the NYTimes reported that from 2004 to 2007, immigrant inmates increased from 231,804 (The Times, here, understates this number, gao.gov/new.items/d05337r.pdf, as noted 2004 figure above) to 311,213 with an increase of $91.6 million dollar cost for it in that time. Rather, though, than stress this costly impact on the U.S. system, CBS and the Times provides a story about an illegal immigrant, Francisco Castaneda, who had penile cancer, not getting prompt (very expensive) treatment. That illustrates the kind of general reporting often used in covering the complexity of immigration issues. Rather than look at the macrocosmic impacts of rapidly-growing millions, the 60 minutes'' reporter looks at microcosmic examples involving individual immigrants impacted by policy.

[ryindy]

vmerton:

As for those that are legal and yet detained, they do have their day in court and are subsequently released. Had they kept proper documentation with them, they would not be in that position in the first place.

Secondly, legal immigrants can send a Note of Thanks to all the illegal aliens, causing those arrests in the first place. If we didn''t have such a large segment of illegals along with document fraud and identity theft most legals wouldn''t be in the position they''re in now.

Lastly, USCIS along with ICE, FBI and other US Law Enforcement branches have a Constitutional requirement to secure our borders and protect the Nation from invasion. Now you don''t have to like that. You can also request your Congressman to start a Constitutional Amendment to alter this. However, I don''t believe you will be very successful in asking Congress to pass an amendment to disregard an invasion of this country.

[buttermilk12]

In the AARP paper I get a Native American woman,in the midwest was diagnosed with cancer and getting treatment.She had medicare,then all of a sudden in the middle of her treatments it stopped paying.WHY SHE HAD TO PROVE SHE WAS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN *** SHE WAS BORN HERE I know a man who had his arm manggled in a dairy accident,the hospital reffussed therapy care for he had no insurance.I was raised you take care of you own first.This country would not be in the shape it is in if we would just stop giving away what we DO NOT HAVE TO GIVE look where it has gotten us.

[jds56781]

This story brought out another side to the health care issues facing this country. Since we seem to be unable to fix any of them, maybe we should start by ensuring that all of the hard working, taxpaying, law abiding citzens who cannot afford even minimal health insurance can have the same level of medical care that prisoners and illegals are required to receive at our expense. When are the rights the law abiding citizen going to receove the same attention we pay to the rights of illegals and prisioners?

[vmerton]

What you do not seem to understand is, THESE PEOPLE HAVE NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED TO BE HERE ILLEGALLY. Many of them, if they had even barely competent representation, would be found to be entirely legitimate -- that is, LEGAL -- residents of the United States. Because only a small fraction -- less than 10% -- have decent, competent representation, and because of the obscene complexity of our immigration law (that''s something we should all agree needs reform, big-time), and because in our system, the benefit of the doubt always goes to the government (the opposite of our criminal justice system), only a few detainees will ultimately prevail. That does not mean that they are ILLEGAL: it means that in a contest with the US government, with no resources, no assistance, and often language difficulties, they are unable to prove that they have or qualify for legal status. BUT, a significant number of them do manage to prove their cases, despite everything, and are judged, by an Immigration Court, or by the Board of Immigration Appeals, or by a federal Circuit Court, to be 100% legal and entitled to remain in the United States. Now, all you haters of illegals, all of you who want to deny everyone who has been arrested and ACCUSED of being illegal any chance to prove their actual legal status (did you know that ICE has arrested numerous American citizens and legal permanent residents "in error" and charged and held them as "illegal"?): what do you say to that?

[rdaveesq]

What most people don''t realize in their rage and anger is that the detention of these individuals, illegal or legal, and yes legal immigrants are detained for years, creates jobs for Americans. Local prisons housing these individuals make more money per detainee and as a result rural areas are now booming. I know this because many guards have told me how they can now afford homes, cars boats etc. Humanity is one thing we should not forget and if we are going to attempt to provide care then it should be good care, not substandard. These physicians are already on the government payroll, they were not hired just for these facilities. LEts look a bit deeper before we jump to conclusions that illegals should not have care and we should not foot the bill. IF we are to think like that then why are we paying the VP''s medicals? Why does the tax payer foot the medicals for members of Congress? They after all, esp. Cheney can afford to pay for their own coverage. 60 minutes did a great story, but for those of us who know exactly how the detention system works, it did not go deep enough. Its a start...

[nosympathy3]

I AM A DISABLED VET AND I DID NOT FIGHT SO MY TAX DOLLARSCOULD BE SPENT ON ILLEGALS WHILE OUR CITIZENS GO WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE. we did not invite illegals here, we invited only those that follow the proceedures. Therefore, we do not owe illegals anything at all, no free healthcare,or lawyers and a ride home.

[tncdel]

There are OVER 35 MILLION illegals sucking the lifeblood out of our country [sending money back home to Mexico, etc.].

See: http://www.theamericanresistance.com/ref/illegal_alien_numbers.html


And they are costing us far more than the war in Iraq. See:

http://www.rense.com/general80/mroe.htm


Hospitals are being forced to close down, going bankrupt, from having to provide "free" health care to the illegals. See:

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/621477/84_hospitals_closed_in_ca_medical_attorney_prescribes_cure_for/


Further, almost TENS TIMES AS MANY AMERICANS have been killed by ILLEGALS than the number of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq. See:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/immigration/231980-48000-americans-killed-illegals-since-9-a.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpomTIkv0V8


Illegals are NOT the "We the people ..." intended by our Constitution. Accordingly, they are NOT entitled to Due Process of Law. Only to SUMMARY JUSTICE.

So that no court should provide them a trial by jury or allow them or the ACLU, etc. to file lawsuits on their behalf.

Please see: http://howtogetridofthem.blogspot.com/

[plastic20001]

It is insane for this country or any agency of this
country to be held accountable for giving health care
to people in this country who are not legally here. It is my understanding that military members can not sue when they believe they have received bad medical
care.

Any law that gives illegal people in this country more rights and entitlements than people who have served this country and paid taxes is a crazy law and I do not see how it could be counstitutional and it looks like taxation without representation to tax payers and defenders of this country.

It is dumb and even dumber to treat illegals like Kings and Queens while treating tax payers and defenders of this country like less than dirt and
then pretend that this country is doing anything
to keep illegals out.

It is high time to change some laws and give some rights and benefits to tax payers and defenders of this country.

I refuse to cooperate in the dehumanization of America. I refuse to cooperate in hiding death and maiming behind the lapel flag pin of patriotism. I refuse to cooperate in the wholesale genocide of an ethnic group because of blatantly racial bigotry under the guise of "illegal." I refuse to cooperate with the poorly argued and thinly sourced scourges of reason in this democracy. I refuse to cooperate with those whose vested interests are in creating hatred, discord and disunity where harmony is needed. Do what you wish, say what you wish, I refuse to cooperate.

[stepdancer58]

There are plenty of needs and it would be ideal if we could meet every one, but your story ignored the fact that so many hard working Americans can''t even afford health insurance for themselves or their families. It would be a shame if, because of your story and others like it, congress passed any law further taxing the uninsured American workers. If you want to do a relevant story you could check how Blue Cross of California (once an honorable company) took approximately $28 million profit out of state and then said that there wasn''t enough money here to adequately pay doctors for services. Blue Cross cut back services covered and now it''s the accountants who get to say what treatment people receive!

[proudcitize1]

Do you really expect me to get worked up because a bunch of illegals get substandard medical care when the people who built this country, fought for its freedoms, worked, paid taxes and are now in their twilight years are unable to receive proper medical care?
The substandard medical care you should be harping on concerns those people who have a right to be here and have an actual right to medical care. They are the ones who have worked and paid into the tax system and should reap the benefits of those taxes. In my personal opinion, Illegal immigrants have no right to be here; therefore, they have no rights to anything the taxpayers have to shell out money for.
There are millions of families in this country who have no medical insurance and no access to the basics of medical care. You want their hard earned tax money to pay for medical care for someone who came into this country illegally?
If illegals don''t like the way they are being treated in these holding centers, which our taxes are paying for, they can always opt for deportation and go back to whatever country they came from.
Just because that 81 year old man was seeking asylum doesn''t mean he came into this country legally. Many illegals seek asylum once they step onto our soil.

[tgato]

Detention In America
You have sunk to your lowest level. You fail to mention
that most of these people are illegal.
I will never watch your program again.

[candojj1]

Believe it! The U.S. is entering the biggest drought in the last century. It is estimated that by 2025, the U.S. may be in another dust bowl.

By conserving water on a national level, meaning lawns are outlawed throughout the U.S., then many illegals would have no work and have to return home.

Also, if there is a crackdown on businesses, especially restaurants, where illegals dominate, then more Americans might have jobs.

So its really up to the citizenry to band together and fight this problem. Seeing that most people don''t care, since it doesn''t seem to enter their minds at all, then it''s a useless cause.

[leprechaun94]

It totally infuriates me that people feel that ILLEGAL immigrants feel they are ENTITLED to healthcare or anything else from the USA. Note the operative word.... "ILLEGAL"!! Perhaps if word gets out to those that would sneak across our borders and expect the world be handed to them on a silver platter, that such is not the case anymore, it would act as a deterrent to their coming in the first place. And perhaps if we were to process the illegals, and put them on a bus or a raft and send them back from where they came quickly, we would not be required to deal with their illnesses while being detained.
How many of us know people that have died of illnesses like cancer simply because they''ve either run out of medical benefits or can no longer afford the co pays and their part of the cost of the procedure they are in need of? Seniors that need to make a choice between medication and food..... Family members that can no longer afford medical bills and allow themselves to die instead of being a burden on their families. WHAT ARE PEOPLE THINKING????
I just wish as much effort went into making sure OUR OWN were as well taken care of as these ILLEGALS expect they''re entitled to. GET ILLEGALS OUT OF THIS COUNTRY!!

[frankbowers]

about 99% of the Asylum seekers are just illegal aliens looking for the freee benefits of American citizens, such as school, food, medicine, and housing. I think if I live in one of the countries I might even try no preacher is now or ever will be in danger of loosing their life it is just a good read for the illegal to be able to say see what he got his niece need to thank God she is not put on a slow boat home she is a sad waste of good tax dollars.
Frank Bowers

[ioweign]

Dr. Jerri Curry



Posted by jerribuddy at 03:29 PM : May 12, 2008


Sorry Jeri, not buying it. The next logical step in your observation is to put all inmate healthcare under some sort of "government hospital". No thanks.

Posted by mbcsmith at 03:48 PM : May 12, 2008

Heaven forbid a government that works for its citizens...

[dscott558]

The question your expose raises is: Why should illeal immigrants receive better care than Americans? The fact is, that illegal immigrants are not the only ones dying. Americans are daily and routinely being denied access to their diagnostic and other healthcare benefits, and dying when that access is refused by managed care.

All I can say to the illegals and their families is: Welcome to our World! Welcome to America.