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Return to Article: Border agency weighs options to handle surge in detainees

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  Read the news folks. Halliburton has been building temporary camps and jails throughout the southwest. They are either for illegal aliens or citizens of the United States that this administration deems unworthy. Check it out, the buildings are real, and they are prisons. Ask DHS why they authorized them.

  GovExec.com reader Posted June 14, 2006 2:16 PM
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  Cruise ships? If that didn't work with the Katrina evacuees, why would it work for the illegal immigrants? The evacuees trashed the cruise ships, just like they are still trashing the hotels and apartments that were given to them. Tent cities are good enough, but not in Arizona. There's some wide open land in Alaska, and the federal government owns it. That should lift the welcome mat that Bush wants to lay out!

  GovExec.com reader Posted June 9, 2006 1:28 PM
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  Put the illegal aliens to work in chain gangs like they do in Maricopa County, Ariz. Feed them peanut butter sandwiches. Make them work for their food. House them in tents like Maricopa County. If it's good enough for U.S. inmates, its good enough for illegals; and it cuts down on detention costs. If they live like this in detention, they'll think twice about reentering the country illegally again!

  Julio Deproc Posted June 8, 2006 9:20 PM
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  Cruise ships. You've got to be kidding. And don't give me the speech that they are older out of service ships. I've never been able to afford a cruise even on older out of service vessels because I have one more kid left to put through college. You are out of your simple minds. The only boat that I would allow would be a slow boat to China.

  Coach Posted June 8, 2006 8:36 AM
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  Why is CBP looking for cruise ships or additional jail bed space? Since when does CBP house detained aliens? Maybe I'm missing something here but I understand that that's solely the duty of ICE/DRO or is DRO upper management trying to get out of that duty also? I wish it was within CBP's authority as it would leave additional, much needed, money in ICE's budget. We started out the fiscal year with, what, $30 million in the hole? (I assume that this is solely the responsibility of DRO. Goodness knows that Border Patrol complains enough that DRO should have merged with their agency and not ICE.)

  And CBP is not the only agency that will be swamped with administrative apprehensions. So will ICE/OI. We were recently ordered to detain all illegal immigrants we come across. To heck with the criminal investigations that we are also ordered to do in spite of ICE mgmt recently testifying before Congress that they are working towards having the agents performing solely their position descriptions (criminal investigations concerning National Security. There is no, nada, zip criminal investigation, much less an investigation connected to an admin apprehension.). There won't be any time left for something so mundane.

  GovExec.com reader Posted June 7, 2006 7:57 PM
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  There are a lot of former military bases which could be converted into detention centers. Another alternative would be tent cities, like the ones operated by that Arizona sheriff who serves prisoners bologna sandwiches to save taxpayers' money. If conditions aren't first class, then maybe those who consider coming here illegally would instead choose to stay home. Whatever the cost, it is vital that facilities be prepared for those who break our laws. Otherwise, our immigration policy will always be viewed as a joke by the rest of the world, which will continue to come here illegally by the millions.

  GovExec.com reader Posted June 7, 2006 5:13 PM
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  I say they should make those detainees do hard labor. Make then clean the sewers and build fences in the oppressive heat. Make them clean up after farm animals and spend long days working on farms. Make them do the filthiest, most disgusting duties that no one else will do. Make them understand the meaning of hard work for nothing.

  Oh wait! They already do that. Don't they? Never mind. Let's put them on cruise ships. That'll make them suffer.

  Robert M. Posted June 7, 2006 7:54 AM
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  Tent cities in strategic locations would be far more cost effective and efficient than leasing ships.

  GovExec.com reader Posted June 6, 2006 10:41 AM