1. Human Rights Violators We are very aware of states that violate human rights, China's actions in Tibet, North Korea's repression, and various other countries that don't respect the basic rights of their people.

2. But what about the US? The United States of America was founded on the principal that all people are created equally with certain unalienable rights. We view ourselves as a beacon to the world.

3. Would you be surprised to find the USA regularly commits human rights violations? Since most involve illegal immigrants you probably are!

4. Organization of American States Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Article V. Right to private and family life Article VI. Right to a family and to protection thereof Article VII. Right to protection for mothers and children Article XVII Right to Fair Trial Article XXVI Right to due process of law Summary: The deportation and detention process of the US Government tramples the rights concerning children and rights concerning legal process. A country that prides itself on rule of law can't behave this way. Reference: Wayne Smith and Hugo Armendariz v. The United States of America (Case No. 12.561 and 12.562)

5. Why should we care? Violating human rights puts the US at the same level as notorious violators. These violations lead to not only social problems but are a growing financial burden on the US taxpayer.

6. Rights Concerning Children One or both parent's detention or deportation irrevocably harms children:  Psychological: Abandonment, anger issues, anxiety, withdrawal  Financial: Housing problems, food insecurity Parent's deportation a burden on US taxpayer:  Children typically US citizens or lawful residents  Become wards of state and placed in care  With loss of breadwinner children that stay with one parent often turn to welfare for survival Long term impact on children's psyche, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Reunification often impossible

7. First six months of 2011, 46,486 undocumented parents removed with at least one US citizen child  From 1998 to 2007 100,000 such parents removed 17 children per day placed in state care as a result of detention/removal of parent

8. Rights Concerning Legal Process Many international human rights laws ignored by US concerning immigrants:  Custody Assessment  Detention Review  Options for Release by an immigration judge Many Due Process violations:  No access to counsel  No ability to challenge detention  No access to healthcare  Arbitrary detention/deportation  Transfers to federal districts that are unsympathetic to immigrants

9. Legal Process Statistics 84% of immigrants in detention and 58% of immigrants in deportation proceedings have no legal representation. Since 2003 107 immigrants have died in detention. Numerous lawsuits challenging use of shackling, attack dogs, solitary confinement, and lethal force

10. Legal Process: Transferring immigrants First 6 months of 2008 53% of detainees were transferred once, 25% transferred multiple times Most transferred to Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi – a federal court region hostile to immigrants. Private Government contractors handle much of this workload (examples later in presentation).

11. Legal Process: Growth of Private Prisons Private prisons are a $3 billion annual business in the US  ½ of that related to detaining immigrants  Average cost to hold an immigrant in detention: $119/day

12. Prisons for Profit

13. Who Pays!? You! (and me)

14. Where the Money Goes Corrections Corporation of America (CCA)  Largest private prison operator GEO Group  Second largest operator, with CCA control 75% of the market Federal Prison Industries  $900 million/year revenue contracting out prison labor  Pay prisoners between 93 cents and $4 per day  Pocket the rest Private Prison Industry spends $45 million/year lobbying  Focus on lawmakers sponsoring tough immigration legislation (Arizona, Florida)

15. Outraged Yet? While human rights violations are deplorable, money concentrated in a few private companies, doing a job that belongs to the government (the people) taking advantage of those with no voice (illegal immigrants) is criminal.

16. References Pringle, Aubrey. “The Winners in Immigration Control: Private Prisons.” The Atlantic Mag., 28 Aug. 2013. Web. 17 Oct 2013. Chiccol, Jessica E. and Kanstroom, Danile. “Brief of the Post-Deportation Human Rights Project, in support of the Request for Public Thematic Hearing Concering U.S Deportation Policy and the Rights of Migrants.” Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, 149 th Period of Sessions, 149 th Period of Sessions, Boston, MA. Web. 18 Oct 2013. Goodkind, Nicole. “Top 5 Secrets of the Private Prison Industry.” Yahoo Finance The Daily Ticker, 6 Aug. 2013. Web. 28 Oct. 2013. Welch, William M. “Deportations Tear Some Families Apart.” USA Today, 5 Dec. 2011. Web. 28 Oct. 2013. Yolshikawa, Hirokazu and Suarez-Orozco, Carola. “Deporting Parents Hurts Kids.” The New York Times, 20 Apr. 2012. Web. 28 Oct. 2013. Muller, Robert T. “The Traumatic Effects of Forced Deportation on Families.” Psychology Today, 18 May 2013. Web. 22 Oct. 2013