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U.N. rights expert to probe U.S. treatment of illegal immigrants
By: ELIANE ENGELER - Associated Press | ∞
GENEVA -- A United Nations human rights expert will head to the United States later this month to investigate a highly criticized Texas center for detained immigrant families and two border areas where U.S. officials have announced they would crack down on Mexicans illegally crossing the border, a U.N. official said Friday.
Jorge Bustamante, the Human Rights Council's independent expert on migrant rights, will "witness first hand the situation of migrants at the borders and in immigration detention facilities," said Yvon Edoumou, a spokesman for the U.N. human rights office in Geneva.
The U.S. government is facilitating the visit, which will take place from April 30 to May 18, Edoumou said.
Bustamante, a Mexican, will examine the U.S.-Mexican border in San Diego, California and Nogales, Arizona -- two of seven places where U.S. immigration officials announced earlier this week that they would fill in illegal cross-border tunnels to keep smugglers from reopening them.
Bustamante will also discuss migrant issues with American government officials, campaign groups and immigrants during the mission that includes stops in Tucson, Ariz.; Austin, Texas; Fort Myers, Fla.; New York; and Washington D.C.
He also will visit the T. Don Hutto facility -- a former prison in Taylor, Texas -- that typically houses about 400 non-criminal immigrants awaiting deportation or other outcomes to their immigration cases.
Earlier this month a U.S. district judge said living conditions seemed "questionable" at the facility. Civil liberties and immigration advocates contend families at Hutto are subjected to psychologically abusive guards, inadequate medical care and inhumane conditions and that the facility is run like a prison. They sued federal officials in March on behalf of several children detained at the center.
Bustamante's findings will be presented to the 47-nation rights council at its next session in June.
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San Marcos Taxpayer wrote on Apr 27, 2007 11:27 PM:What right does this corrupt organization have to question anything. Look what their people tolerate in Africa when their troops are suppose to be protecting these poor people. They become thugs and rapists themselves and are much worse than the original problem. Everyone with a half a brain knows that the UN hates the US. Let the UN know that many of us have the same regards for them. Their couldn't be a more corrupt organization in the world than the UN (possible exception being our Congress). We should get rid of one and change all personnel in the other.
Tell Jorge to wrote on Apr 28, 2007 3:00 AM:check the human rights violations in Darfur before he comes here. What a crock, interfering with our laws.
Bad Bob wrote on Apr 28, 2007 4:57 AM:What a joke! Why doesn't investigate civil rights in China, Cuba, Russia, and Moslem countries?
Hee Haw wrote on Apr 28, 2007 8:52 AM:Welcome one and all to hillbilly country, USA. The level of crass stupidity here is really depressing.
El Guero wrote on Apr 28, 2007 9:02 AM:The fact that the U.N. would appoint an 'expert' on 'human rights' from the country of Mexico to inspect detention facilities in the U.S. for illegal migrants from Mexico has to be one of the richest ironies ever. Look up hypocrisy in the dictionary and you'll find Jorge Bustamante's picture.
Geeze wrote on Apr 28, 2007 10:18 AM:Give me a break already. I am so sick of this subject as the illegals and bleeders get ready to march in our streets on May 1, I do not have sympathy for these people. GO HOME!!!!
American woman wrote on Apr 28, 2007 10:30 AM:Yikes! I mean this is just unbelievable! Our President has facilitated the "visit" of this Mexican fellow, Bustamonte, to oversee our treatment of those who would illegally enter our sovereign nation. ABSURD! UNACCEPTABLE, INSULTING! Somebody close the door on this travesty! How does this happen in the United States of America! Do we care what this guy thinks? I think NOT. Just when you think you've seen it all............;.
Stay home, Jorge wrote on Apr 28, 2007 1:35 PM:I wonder if he has checked out any Mexican jails. I understand they aren't so pleasant. Also, has he checked out how Mexico treats immigrants at their Southern border? Stay home and fix some real problems.
nancy wrote on Apr 28, 2007 3:49 PM:Before Jorge visits our border he should visit Mexico's southern border. How about taking care of business in Mexico before trying to interfere with us? We need to meet with Jorge. Let him hear what American citizens think of him and the UN. Stay home, Jorge.
Anchorage Activist wrote on Apr 30, 2007 4:45 PM:Why is the U.S. government facilitating this visit? Since when is the U.S. accountable to the U.N.? I would expect this of the Clinton Administration. The fact that George W. Bush agreed to it shows that Pat Buchanan was right when he said that both major parties are nothing more than two separate wings of the same bird of prey. By the way, for breaking into our country, illegal aliens are just as criminal as if they'd broken into our individual homes.
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