Fault Lines - Punishment and Profits: Immigration Detention

Immigration is a key issue in the US presidential election, with the Republican candidates trying to demonstrate their tough stance on undocumented immigrants.

But under the Obama administration, the detention and deportation of immigrants has reached an all-time high.

Every day, the US government detains more than 33,000 non-citizens at the cost of $5.5mn a day. That is a lot of money for the powerful private prison industry, which spends millions of dollars on lobbying and now operates nearly half of the country's immigration detention centres.

Fault Lines travels to Texas and Florida to investigate the business of immigrant detention in the US and to find out how a handful of companies have managed to shape US immigration laws.

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• Category

  • Documentary
  • News

• Starring:

  • Sebastian Walker
  • Zeina Awad
  • Josh Rushing
  • Anjali Kamat

• Produced by:

  • Mat Skene
  • Jeremy Young
  • Andréa Schmidt
  • Elizabeth Gorman
  • Laila Alarian
  • Sweta Vohra
  • Anjali Kamat

[Josh Rushing]

One of the detainees in the video, Naz, is on Reddit right now (2:30 pm EST 4/11/2012) doing an 'Ask Me Anything'. Go ask him a question. You can find it by searching for: "IAMA newlywed husband who was torn from my wife and detained without bail in an immigration detention center for a year, simply for PROFIT."

[Aaron Seyer]

American society is under attack from all sides. The financial industry has become a tool used to fleece those foolish enough to put their money into it. The economy is being systematically dismantled and shipped over seas. Our food and water are poisoned with pesticides, fluoride, and other toxic chemicals. Congress is corrupt and our elections are a scam. The thing all of these have in common is a disregard for basic human rights and civil liberties. Let's put a stop to this now! Free Liberty!

[James Stowe]

White America is finished, it's just a matter of time..

[iEmbarcadero]

Humanity will one day be, free.

[IRINA NAGY GYURIS]

USA and the big democracy...yes,anybody know about the America,there is the biggest democracy on the World.

This poor peoles try to make an existence,to make for they family a better life.I never,but never trust in Obama.Hes a liar.

I like your documentary,but i wish to know: how is about the Scientology?

What is your oppinion-is a bad religion,or a dangerous sect?

In fact,this is the same.Such a religion don't have right to exist.

With respect:Irina

[Andy Maracz]

What`s undocumented anyway? I think those people should not take any risks if there`s a way to do it legally. Let`s be honest they simply need to be qualified, everyone can apply though, I mean a good profession with intermediate English skill would do the trick and they don`t need to "live in fear". The same thing applies in my country too. You can`t do shit without being registered. What`s the point?

[Samuel Milton]

Certain people should be given the path to citizenship!!!! What we NEED to do is make it easier for future immigrants to get a VISA, but once we let so many Immigrants in we have to say that's all that can have VISA'S for a certain amount of time!!!!

[Samuel Milton]

I'm for the Dream Act!!!!

[Samuel Milton]

I'm for the dream act!!!! But anyone else who doesn't qualify should be deported!!!!

[Samuel Milton]

My whole point is that I want to see immigrants come to my country and make a better life for themselves, but I WANT them to do it LEGALLY!!!! If your over 18 years old and you cross the border ILLEGALLY then you automatically get deported!!!! There are a lot of people waiting in line for a VISA to get into this country!!!!

[Samuel Milton]

I want to see Immigrants come to America, but I WANT them to do it LEGALLY!!!! The US Government SHOULD make it easier for immigrants to get VISA'S and the correct documentation they need to come to the US!!!! I think illegals that were brought hear as little kids should have the path to citizenship given to them!!!!! But for all other illegals that don't wait in line and come to my country LEGALLY, I think we should deport them!!!!