T. Don Hutto Residential Center
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The T. Don Hutto Residential Center is an immigrant detention facility in Taylor, Texas operated by Corrections Corp of America.[1] A former high-security state prison, it and a smaller center in Pennsylvania are the only two facilities in the United States that are authorized to hold non-Mexican immigrant families and children on noncriminal charges. Its purpose is to hold immigrant families while their applications for asylum are being considered. It began operating in the summer of 2006 and currently holds 375 prisoners, approximately 200 of which are children.[2] Previously illegal immigrants with children would be released with a notice to appear before an immigration judge, but would often not make the court date and instead disappear. Detainees are a diverse group, they include single men with children, pregnant women, infants, and 17 year old boys.
Many of the inmates are from Central and South America. However, there is a significant number Africans, Asians, and Europeans. While some families do not have a valid claim for immigrant relief, many of the detainees are seeking asylum in the United States. An alien with a valid claim for asylum would have very little reason to not appear for court appearances.
The facility has been the subject of controversy. The American Civil Liberties Union has launched an investigation of alleged human rights violations, claiming a hunger strike took place there in early February, 2007 and alleging inadequate medical care and inhumane treatment of children.[3] Attorneys representing some of the families detained at Hutto say that clients have complained of inedible food, weight loss and inadequate classroom instruction for their children.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.correctionscorp.com/facilitylist.cfm#
- ^ "Facility Allows U.S. to Detain Immigrant Families", NPR, February 9, 2007.
- ^ Elkins, Keith. "Media Allowed To Tour Controversial Detention Center", Keytv.com, Feb 9, 2007.
- ^ Garay, Anabelle. "Authorities offer tour of immigrant detention center", Associated Press, Feb. 09, 2007.
