Immigration detention centers hold individuals suspected of visa violations or some other kind of illegal entry into the United States.. These are immigrants who would be subject to deportation if authorities do not grant them a visa and release them into the community. The United States appears to be making that kind of detention mandatory – even for those who seek political asylum
Immigration detention began in the United States in the early 1980s when Haitians and Cubans came by boat. Some Chinese were also detained then. Detention became mandatory in 1996 (not for Cubans).
Something was awry in these centers. Between 2003 and 2008, a study found that deaths, especially of young people, were too great. The problem continues. ICE argues the number of deaths is not that great; it is lower than in jails.
In 2009, the Obama administration promised to fix the immigration detention system. The system was never fixed. ICE continues using practices characteristics of jails.
The United States is not alone. According to Wikipedia, other countries using detention centers are Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Malta (understood to be the strictest in Europe), Portugal, Ukraine, and Great Britain.
Are these places really like prisons?