Record Levels of Immigrant Detention

We often blog about stories, lawsuits, and complaints generally about the detention of immigrants.  Detention, hoiwever, is increasing, not decreasing.  Anna Gorman for the L.A. Times reports that aggressive immigration enforcement efforts have led to record numbers of detainees in California and around the nation, prompting the federal government to speed up deportations and increasingly rely on transfers and contracts with local jails and private companies. The detainee population jumped to nearly 27,900 nationwide in fiscal year 2007, up from about 19,700 the previous year, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In California, the population increased to more than 3,700, up from a little more than 3,200 last year. Two weeks ago, the population surpassed 30,000 nationally and nearly reached 4,000 in California.

The immigration agency’s budget for bed space skyrocketed to $945 million last year, up from $641 million in fiscal year 2005.

In July, the U.S. Government Accountability Office reported that populations at four facilities, including San Pedro and San Diego, CA were over capacity. The report also noted “systemic” problems with telephones in detention centers and isolated problems with medical care and use-of-force policies.

KJ