Apparently using felt-tip markers, which unlike tattoos (see below post) are not permanent, by writing numbers on arrestees' hands,is not an acceptable practice.
On Tuesday a plastics company in Mishawaka, Indiana was raided by immigration authorities, 36 suspected illegal immigrants were arrested.
Some of those arrested were bussed to McHenry County, Illinois northwest of Chicago to be jailed there.
McHenry County jailers used felt-tip markers to write numbers, odd for men, even for women, on the hands of each inmate. And that's where the trouble started.
From NBC 5 Chicago:
"When we knew about this issue, we immediately reacted and we complained with immigration authorities and homeland security," said Carlos Sada of the Mexican Consulate.
Many feel the conditions on which immigrants are held are inhumane.
"The marking is an insult," said Emma Lozano from Pueblo Sin Fronteras. "They treat these people as if they're numbers and not as human beings. But worse, is that they're being held and given nothing to eat and treated as if they are criminals."
If those plastics company employees are in the country illegally, then that makes them criminals.
In regards to the hand-markings, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement told the jail to stop the practice. As for the accused-illegals getting nothing to eat, well, I do know some people who have been jailed, and being fed consistently is something they relied upon. Time is marked by meal periods. In short, I don't believe Ms. Lozano on that one.
Technorati tags:
illegal immigration 
illegal aliens 
mexico 
méxico 
Indiana 
Mishawaka 
Illinois 
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