Comments on: DHS: putting detainees in homeless shelters

DHS: putting detainees in homeless shelters

damn yankee — Thu, 18 Nov 2004 15:03:19 -0800

"It's the Department of Homeland Security not appreciating other levels of government as they go through their work." The feds take 5 Honduran nationals from a jail in Bangor, Maine, where they've been held since Sept. 27, and without any notice to local health or law enforcement officials, drop the men off this week at a homeless shelter 2 hours south in Portland. When he asked whether the city would be reimbursed by the federal government for providing services to the men, Cayer said, he was told that the department did not have the money for that.

By: damn yankee

damn yankee — Thu, 18 Nov 2004 15:11:18 -0800

Fittingly, our chief of police (a controversial character in his own right) is concerned with the potent rap sheets these guys might have: "Immigration, which is under the Department of Homeland Security, never gave us the courtesy of a call," he said. "We don't know if these guys are murderers, rapists, robbers, terrorists. We have no way of knowing." Whereas our Health and Human Services guy is more troubled by the idea that these men have been left defenseless, strangers in a strange land, by our government. With winter coming. In Maine. Cayer doubted that the men posed a threat, but said they have no money, don't speak English and have no social connections here.

By: fenriq

fenriq — Thu, 18 Nov 2004 15:12:40 -0800

Well, they DO have a mandate so they really don't need to let anyone know anything before they lock us all up or let us all go or lock half of us up and let the other half go or if they buy us a cheese sandwich. I think the principle issue is the federal government's total disregard of locals. Not just local governments. As an aside, I love saying Bangor. Almost as much as I like saying Rectum? Damn near killed him. Sorry.

By: damn yankee

damn yankee — Thu, 18 Nov 2004 15:17:50 -0800

Of course if you pronounced it bang-her round here, we'd all know you were from away. Flatlander. Realize this is the same state that pronounces Calais (its own, not the French) as callus. So. No moral superiority implied.

By: damn yankee

damn yankee — Thu, 18 Nov 2004 15:19:52 -0800

And, uh, that should be the "potential" rap sheets of the detainees, though I'm sure Chief is also worried that said rap sheets might be, uh, potent.

By: sotonohito

sotonohito — Thu, 18 Nov 2004 15:30:23 -0800

Well, if this is an example of the throughness and planning that goes into the average DHS action, I'm less than impressed with their ability to handle more important things. Like, you know, securing the homeland... Not that the DHS has had anything resembling a good record, but this is pretty blatantly stupid and poorly planned.

By: fenriq

fenriq — Thu, 18 Nov 2004 15:39:55 -0800

Damn Yankee, don't worry, I'm no flatlander but you won't like me anyway, I'm a Green Mountain Boy. Don't feel bad though, we have a Governor out here who can't even pronounce California correctly. And we are just as embarrased to have him as our governor as the rest of the world is to see him be our governator.

By: AlexReynolds

AlexReynolds — Thu, 18 Nov 2004 15:44:27 -0800

These people are lucky for getting help. I'd worry more about immigrants who are indefinitely detained by the INS, and disappear from the system.

By: neckro23

neckro23 — Thu, 18 Nov 2004 16:09:50 -0800

c/principle/principal Boy, editorial standards sure have fallen.

By: crunchburger

crunchburger — Thu, 18 Nov 2004 18:07:39 -0800

Yup. I saw a Reuters story use the phrase "from the get-go" last week.

By: yerfatma

yerfatma — Thu, 18 Nov 2004 19:21:10 -0800

Of course if you pronounced it bang-her round here, we'd all know you were from away. Pleased to be explaining why your previous govenor was the Anus King then.

By: Mayor Curley

Mayor Curley — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 03:26:16 -0800

Chitwood is still police chief in Portland? Is he still a fascist?

By: jfuller

jfuller — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 04:27:18 -0800

> "The principle issue is the federal government's total disregard of local government," States' Rights (not to mention local rights) look more and more attractive, don't they, when folks you don't like (and who don't like you) are in charge in Washington? How the pendulum swings.

By: lodurr

lodurr — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 04:59:14 -0800

Yes, how it does swing, in great swooping circles of irony. For example, it's irnoic that I should have to point out to you that the "mandated" politicians who are practicing this disregard would have us believe they are avid proponents of states rights.....

By: zoogleplex

zoogleplex — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 10:12:03 -0800

Good ol' Juddie Driscoll used to say it right: "BAN-goah." 'N' don't you fehget it, city slickahs. :) Meanwhile, how ironic to turn a bunch of guys loose with no money, no English skills, and first-hand experience of the capriciousness of DHS. Aren't these guys exactly the type of men that terrorists would try to recruit?

By: esquire

esquire — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 13:12:50 -0800

Um, why? Do people with no money, poor English skills, and unpleasant experiences with government agencies generally want to commit mass murder?