Immigration, Detention and Women

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/18/us/18detain-1.html?_r=1&ref=us

This article is a good update on what we discussed in class about the detention centers and immigration law, 287g. Similar to what Jennifer pointed out in class, the article states that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights believes the government has not done enough to make sure that individuals are not singled out and detained because of their race. As a result of the Commission's report and investigations of immigration detention centers, they want the government to cancel 287g.

According to the article, the Obama administration is working to make changes to the system and they claim to have already made some important changes. Yet, the Commission is justifiably concerned about the continuing problem of detaining immigrants in the current conditions and circumstances. This problem is especially problematic for women, as this letter to the editor demonstrates:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/27/opinion/lweb27immig.html?src=twrhp

This letter, written by Anika Rahman, President of Ms. Foundation for Women points out the specific atrocities that women immigrants are sometimes forced to face. One frequent problem that immigrant women have is not being able to report crimes, particularly domestic violence. Some citizens of the U.S have a difficult time getting help in cases of domestic violence let alone immigrant women who know they cannot contact the authorities for help, further perpetuating the cycle of violence. This became a significant problem for women in Arizona when the SB1070 law was passed last year; thus further enforcing one of the many human rights issues immigrant women sometime face.