So Where should we put asylum-seeking family members?

The Washington Post article discusses the creation of detention facilities for illegal immigrant families awaiting their asylum hearings, like the one in Texas and Berks County, PA.
In the past, mothers were separated from their children, husbands from their wives etc., These new detention facilities are presented as an alternative to placing the children out into temporary foster care, or putting the parents into bona fide immigration prisons.
Immigrant rights groups call these detention facilities little more than supped-up prison facilities and request alternatives, like paroling the detainees, placing them in special shelters while they await their immigration hearing. What do you think?

Female Iraqi Refugees turn to prostitution

This interesting report (video) has been prepared by CBS News, and it depicts the plight of helpless Iraqi women on the streets of Damascus, the capital city of Syria. These women are widows, orphans and single parents who have no support and protection. Fleeing the horrors of war that have ravaveged their country, these Iraqi women have no other option but to sell their bodies to make ends meet. One of the Iraqi refugees says "It feels like getting raped every day." Imagine selling your honor, your self-respect and your dignity just to 'earn' a few dollars to survive.
The United States of America has announced that it will accept 7000 Iraqi refugees next year. Juat have a look at the video and think if admitting 7000 refugees is a 'generous' act on United States' part, the country that initiated the war. Do you think if United States should accept more refugees from Iraq? Is United States doing enough to resettle the Iraqi refugees that have been displaced by ethnic clashes and terrorist attcks? And lastly, how effective have been the efforts of International community in resettling the refugees from Afghanistan? (Afghanistan? remember, the Allied forces are still hunting down terrorists in Kabul and Quetta!!)

Guantanamo court moves rejected

Along with the dire, breaking new about Britney Spears' shaved head appeared this article on BBC's front page today. The crisis in Guantanamo Bay does not look like it will be coming to an end any time soon. The detaining of people with no proven record of terrorist activities shocked and appalled me at first, but now it mainly makes me wonder even more about everything else that must go on in the world, and our in country, that is just never made public.

The article also made me think about what CJ ICEman was saying today about there being "two kinds of aliens." Only two, eh? What about the newly coined phrase "enemy combatant?" Are they one of the "dirt bags" to whom he was referring?

One more phrase in the article also struck a nerve with me: "Judge A Raymond Randolph said that accepting the arguments of lawyers on behalf of detainees 'would be to defy the will of Congress.'" Now, I'm not a government major, but I am aware of the phrase "innocent until proven guilty," and that seems to be the polar opposite of what is unfolding at Guantanamo Bay. Also, if lawyers are only defending laws that were already put in place, how technically is that defying congress?

Any thoughts?

Congo at the Crossroads

This Link is a link to a slide show of pictures with narration by the Photographer. It describes the sad state of affairs in the Congo. This is an African nation whose people have seen many hardships over recent years. I would strongly urge you to view the slide show because it is quiet interesting. I think that I found it so interesting because of the research I have been doing about Asylum Law.
Many of the people in the Congo face all sorts of trouble including, murders, beatings, displacement, and overwhelming exploitation. The Congo is a land rich in natural resources and for this reason both the national government, rebels, and multi-national corporations have been exploiting the land and its peoples.
In viewing this slide show you view and hear many things that beg the question why many still remain in the country. They face fears from groups that the government cannot control and violence is rampant. Thousands are dying.
The country has recently held “free” elections in 2006 and the chosen president still faces massive troubles. He must find a way to unite the country and put an end to the violence, which has raised many human rights issues.