Some migrant families arriving in the United States will be housed in hotels under a new programme managed by non-profit organisations, according to two people familiar with the plans, a move away from for-profit detention centers that have been criticised by Democrats and health experts.&nbsp;

Endeavors, a San Antonio-based organisation, will oversee what it calls 'family reception sites' at hotels in Texas and Arizona, the two sources said. The organisation, in partnership with other non-profits, will initially provide up to 1,400 beds in seven different brand-name hotels for families deemed vulnerable when caught at the border.&nbsp;

The opening of the reception centers would mark a significant shift by the administration of President Joe Biden, a Democrat, away from the detention of migrant families in for-profit facilities.&nbsp;

In January, Biden issued an order directing the Justice Department not to renew its contracts with privately operated criminal detention facilities. However, the order did not address immigration jails run by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).&nbsp;

ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment.&nbsp;

Roughly 900 migrants are currently being held in two family detention centers in Texas, according to ICE data. A third center in Pennsylvania is no longer being used to hold families.&nbsp;

The number of migrants arriving at the US-Mexico border has climbed in recent weeks as Biden has rolled back some of the hardline policies of former President Donald Trump, a Republican.&nbsp;

Biden, who took office on January 20, has faced criticism from Republicans for reversing those policies. At the same time, some Democrats opposed Biden's administration re-opening a Trump-era emergency shelter for children.&nbsp;

The hotel sites, set to open in April, will offer Covid-19 testing, medical care, food services, social workers and case managers to help with travel and onward destinations, according to the two sources, who requested anonymity to discuss the matter. Staff will be trained to work with children.&nbsp;

It remained unclear whether migrants would be required to wear ankle bracelets or be subject to any other form of monitoring, the people said.&nbsp;

The families will arrive at border patrol stations and then be sent to the hotel sites to continue immigration paperwork, which is currently done in US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities, the two sources said. They could leave the reception centers as early as six hours after arrival if paperwork is completed, they test negative for Covid-19 and transportation has been arranged.&nbsp;

The housing of some migrants in hotels was reported by Axios earlier on Saturday.&nbsp;

Endeavors will also operate a new 2,000-bed shelter for unaccompanied children in Texas, the sources said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Some migrant families arriving in the United States will be housed in hotels under a new programme managed by non-profit organisations, according to two people familiar with the plans, a move away from for-profit detention centers that have been criticised by Democrats and health experts.

Some migrant families arriving in the United States will be housed in hotels under a new programme managed by non-profit organisations, according to two people familiar with the plans, a move away from for-profit detention centers that have been criticised by Democrats and health experts. Endeavors, a San Antonio-based organisation, will oversee what it calls 'family reception sites' at hotels in Texas and Arizona, the two sources said. The organisation, in partnership with other non-profits, will initially provide up to 1,400 beds in seven different brand-name hotels for families deemed vulnerable when caught at the border. The opening of the reception centers would mark a significant shift by the administration of President Joe Biden, a Democrat, away from the detention of migrant families in for-profit facilities. In January, Biden issued an order directing the Justice Department not to renew its contracts with privately operated criminal detention facilities. However, the order did not address immigration jails run by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Roughly 900 migrants are currently being held in two family detention centers in Texas, according to ICE data. A third center in Pennsylvania is no longer being used to hold families. The number of migrants arriving at the US-Mexico border has climbed in recent weeks as Biden has rolled back some of the hardline policies of former President Donald Trump, a Republican. Biden, who took office on January 20, has faced criticism from Republicans for reversing those policies. At the same time, some Democrats opposed Biden's administration re-opening a Trump-era emergency shelter for children. The hotel sites, set to open in April, will offer Covid-19 testing, medical care, food services, social workers and case managers to help with travel and onward destinations, according to the two sources, who requested anonymity to discuss the matter. Staff will be trained to work with children. It remained unclear whether migrants would be required to wear ankle bracelets or be subject to any other form of monitoring, the people said. The families will arrive at border patrol stations and then be sent to the hotel sites to continue immigration paperwork, which is currently done in US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities, the two sources said. They could leave the reception centers as early as six hours after arrival if paperwork is completed, they test negative for Covid-19 and transportation has been arranged. The housing of some migrants in hotels was reported by Axios earlier on Saturday. Endeavors will also operate a new 2,000-bed shelter for unaccompanied children in Texas, the sources said. (With inputs from agencies)

US to place migrant families in hotels in move away from detention centers 

Mexico has accused the US of forcing women to undergo surgeries at the US immigration detention centres. The allegation has been made directly by the Mexican foreign ministry.

The accusation was made through a statement on Saturday in which the foreign ministry claimed that their consulate in Atlanta has identified cases of a privately run detention centre in the state of Georgia. This centre allegedly is run in very bad conditions including&nbsp;irregularities related to sterilizations.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-asks-pope-to-apologise-for-atrocities-during-spanish-conquests-334378/amp">Also read:&nbsp;Mexico asks Pope to apologise for atrocities during Spanish conquests</a>

In the accusation, it has been stated that at least two women were forced to undergo a surgery without her consent. Allegedly one woman at the centre in Georgia had undergone "a surgical intervention" — but not a hysterectomy — and had not even received any post-operative care.

"The consulate general requested the opinion of a medical specialist who, after an exhaustive review of the file, considers that there are irregularities or anomalies in the medical procedure," the document read.

The second case is also of a woman from the same centre in Georgia who could have&nbsp;"undergone gynecological surgery without her full consent, without having received an explanation in Spanish of the medical diagnosis or the nature of the medical procedures that would be performed."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/four-men-on-trial-over-death-of-39-vietnamese-migrants-in-uk-truck-container-333250">Also read:&nbsp;Four men on trial over death of 39 Vietnamese migrants in UK truck container</a>

This allegation has come almost a month after the Mexican government started investigating&nbsp;whether six of its citizens were sterilized without their consent at the immigration detention center in Irwin County.

These cases came to light after a nurse from the centre explained the conditions the detainees are kept in. She particularly talked about the ill living conditions of the people who are detained under the&nbsp;Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. She explained how the women detainees were forced to undergo this operation without them understanding the procedure due to the barrier of language.

Mexico has accused the US of forcing women to undergo surgeries at the US immigration detention centres. The allegation has been made directly by the Mexican foreign ministry.

Mexico has accused the US of forcing women to undergo surgeries at the US immigration detention centres. The allegation has been made directly by the Mexican foreign ministry. The accusation was made through a statement on Saturday in which the foreign ministry claimed that their consulate in Atlanta has identified cases of a privately run detention centre in the state of Georgia. This centre allegedly is run in very bad conditions including irregularities related to sterilizations. Also read: Mexico asks Pope to apologise for atrocities during Spanish conquests In the accusation, it has been stated that at least two women were forced to undergo a surgery without her consent. Allegedly one woman at the centre in Georgia had undergone "a surgical intervention" — but not a hysterectomy — and had not even received any post-operative care. "The consulate general requested the opinion of a medical specialist who, after an exhaustive review of the file, considers that there are irregularities or anomalies in the medical procedure," the document read. The second case is also of a woman from the same centre in Georgia who could have "undergone gynecological surgery without her full consent, without having received an explanation in Spanish of the medical diagnosis or the nature of the medical procedures that would be performed." Also read: Four men on trial over death of 39 Vietnamese migrants in UK truck container This allegation has come almost a month after the Mexican government started investigating whether six of its citizens were sterilized without their consent at the immigration detention center in Irwin County. These cases came to light after a nurse from the centre explained the conditions the detainees are kept in. She particularly talked about the ill living conditions of the people who are detained under the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. She explained how the women detainees were forced to undergo this operation without them understanding the procedure due to the barrier of language.

Mexico accuses US of performing surgeries on women without consent

The issue of immigration is a global political hot potato. In America, President Donald Trump is building a wall to keep Mexicans and Central Americans out.

Europe is troubled by the influx of African migrants. Britain has wrapped up its exit from the European Union. Even there, the free movement of people was perhaps the biggest sticking point.

And here in India, we are in the middle of a national debate on illegal immigrants triggered by a new Citizenship Law.&nbsp;

Talking about the United States, a 30-foot high portion of Trump's wall along the US-Mexico border blew over in high winds yesterday.

In more ways than one, this incident personifies what's wrong with Trump's agreements on immigration, high on rhetoric and low on substance. 
 
WATCH:&nbsp;Detention camps: Inhumane, but inevitable 
&nbsp;

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While America might have tightened its border checks, Trump has failed to keep the numbers in check. American borders still remain porous in some areas.

In fact, the tougher rules are leading to more deaths at the borders. Last year in August, more than 500 deaths were reported from America and almost half of them were recorded at the US-Mexico border.

Poor execution aside, the argument has merit - illegal immigration is a legitimate concern. Trump rose to power by giving his voice to an issue that most politicians were silent about.

Native Americans were concerned about illegal immigrants, but nobody except Trump was willing to say it.

It's a pitch that India's Prime minister Narendra Modi has been able to successfully replicate. The BJP's pitch to battle illegal migration has found a connect.

But, has the government exaggerated the crisis? The numbers from the census throw up some trends. In America and other major countries of Western Europe, the immigration rate, the share of the immigrant population is around 10-15 per cent.

Reportedly, in India, the immigration rate is less than one per cent. Irrespective of what the numbers suggest, India is expected to escalate its crackdown on illegal immigrants.

Reports say that last year, the Centre asked the states to build at least one detention centre to house illegals. But, as the recent anti-CAA protests have shown, such moves have triggered anxieties.

About a year,&nbsp;the idea of detention centres and pictures from the US- Mexico border triggered major outrage. Prison like facilities, where children were separated from their families.

Detention centres around the world are not much different - Canada, Germany and Australia too have been criticised for keeping detainees in inhumane conditions. Reportedly, the Indian government already has 10 detention centres.

India must tread cautiously on this issue because any step that we&nbsp;take,&nbsp;will face the scrutiny of the world. 
 
(Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world) 
&nbsp;

The issue of immigration is a global political hot potato. In America, President Donald Trump is building a wall to keep Mexicans and Central Americans out. Europe is troubled by the influx of African migrants.

The issue of immigration is a global political hot potato. In America, President Donald Trump is building a wall to keep Mexicans and Central Americans out. Europe is troubled by the influx of African migrants. Britain has wrapped up its exit from the European Union. Even there, the free movement of people was perhaps the biggest sticking point. And here in India, we are in the middle of a national debate on illegal immigrants triggered by a new Citizenship Law. Talking about the United States, a 30-foot high portion of Trump's wall along the US-Mexico border blew over in high winds yesterday. In more ways than one, this incident personifies what's wrong with Trump's agreements on immigration, high on rhetoric and low on substance. WATCH: Detention camps: Inhumane, but inevitable × While America might have tightened its border checks, Trump has failed to keep the numbers in check. American borders still remain porous in some areas. In fact, the tougher rules are leading to more deaths at the borders. Last year in August, more than 500 deaths were reported from America and almost half of them were recorded at the US-Mexico border. Poor execution aside, the argument has merit - illegal immigration is a legitimate concern. Trump rose to power by giving his voice to an issue that most politicians were silent about. Native Americans were concerned about illegal immigrants, but nobody except Trump was willing to say it. It's a pitch that India's Prime minister Narendra Modi has been able to successfully replicate. The BJP's pitch to battle illegal migration has found a connect. But, has the government exaggerated the crisis? The numbers from the census throw up some trends. In America and other major countries of Western Europe, the immigration rate, the share of the immigrant population is around 10-15 per cent. Reportedly, in India, the immigration rate is less than one per cent. Irrespective of what the numbers suggest, India is expected to escalate its crackdown on illegal immigrants. Reports say that last year, the Centre asked the states to build at least one detention centre to house illegals. But, as the recent anti-CAA protests have shown, such moves have triggered anxieties. About a year, the idea of detention centres and pictures from the US- Mexico border triggered major outrage. Prison like facilities, where children were separated from their families. Detention centres around the world are not much different - Canada, Germany and Australia too have been criticised for keeping detainees in inhumane conditions. Reportedly, the Indian government already has 10 detention centres. India must tread cautiously on this issue because any step that we take, will face the scrutiny of the world. (Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

WION Edit: Detention of illegal immigrants a political hot potato

There is no connection between the detention centre and NRC or CAA. The centre has been there for years and is for illegal migrants. Misinformation is being spread on this, said Union Home Minister Amit Shah in an interview on Tuesday.&nbsp;

"Detention of illegal immigrants is a continuous process. Detention centres have nothing to do with NRC. If a foreigner is arrested without documents, he is kept at detention centres and they are deported later," Shah said.&nbsp;

"We have not kept anybody in detention centres. People left out in NRC in Assam are living in their homes. There is only one detention centre in Assam, and it's been there for years. No detention centre has been built under the Prime Minister Modi government," he asserted.

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Home Minister Amit Shah to ANI: There is no connection between detention center and NRC or CAA. The center has been there for years and is for illegal migrants. Misinformation is being spread on this. <a href="https://t.co/OAHlt8V96e">pic.twitter.com/OAHlt8V96e</a>
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Shah's remarks came on a day the Union Cabinet approved the proposal for conducting Census of India 2021 and updation of National Population Register.&nbsp;

He assured that no person should have any reason to be concerned about the exercise and data collected under NPR exercise is helpful for the government to formulate schemes for people.

"The data collected under NPR will be used to formulate plans for the betterment of the public through central government schemes. It is not an exercise to decide citizenship of any person," Shah said.

(With inputs from ANI)

There is no connection between the detention centre and NRC or CAA. The centre has been there for years and is for illegal migrants. Misinformation is being spread on this, said Union Home Minister Amit Shah in an interview on Tuesday.

There is no connection between the detention centre and NRC or CAA. The centre has been there for years and is for illegal migrants. Misinformation is being spread on this, said Union Home Minister Amit Shah in an interview on Tuesday. "Detention of illegal immigrants is a continuous process. Detention centres have nothing to do with NRC. If a foreigner is arrested without documents, he is kept at detention centres and they are deported later," Shah said. "We have not kept anybody in detention centres. People left out in NRC in Assam are living in their homes. There is only one detention centre in Assam, and it's been there for years. No detention centre has been built under the Prime Minister Modi government," he asserted. Home Minister Amit Shah to ANI: There is no connection between detention center and NRC or CAA. The center has been there for years and is for illegal migrants. Misinformation is being spread on this. pic.twitter.com/OAHlt8V96e — ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2019 × Shah's remarks came on a day the Union Cabinet approved the proposal for conducting Census of India 2021 and updation of National Population Register. He assured that no person should have any reason to be concerned about the exercise and data collected under NPR exercise is helpful for the government to formulate schemes for people. "The data collected under NPR will be used to formulate plans for the betterment of the public through central government schemes. It is not an exercise to decide citizenship of any person," Shah said. (With inputs from ANI)

Detention centres have nothing to do with NRC: Amit Shah

The United States has the highest rate of children in detention centres.

This includes more than a hundred thousand children in immigration-related custody. That violates international law.

Worldwide, more than seven million people under the age of eighteen are being held in jails.

A United Nations study suggests that children should be detained as a measure of last resort and for the shortest time possible.

Remember, Donald Trump's administration has been criticized for separating children from their parents, especially at the US-Mexico border.

This is in clear violation of the convention on the rights of the child.

However, the US has completely denied this accusation.

At least twenty-nine thousand children mainly linked to Islamic state fighters are held in northern Syria and Iraq.

Experts suggest that even if children had been child soldiers, they should be mainly treated as victims and not perpetrators.

They should be rehabilitated and reintegrated into society.

The United States has the highest rate of children in detention centres. This includes more than a hundred thousand children in immigration-related custody. That violates international law.

The United States has the highest rate of children in detention centres. This includes more than a hundred thousand children in immigration-related custody. That violates international law. Worldwide, more than seven million people under the age of eighteen are being held in jails. A United Nations study suggests that children should be detained as a measure of last resort and for the shortest time possible. Remember, Donald Trump's administration has been criticized for separating children from their parents, especially at the US-Mexico border. This is in clear violation of the convention on the rights of the child. However, the US has completely denied this accusation. At least twenty-nine thousand children mainly linked to Islamic state fighters are held in northern Syria and Iraq. Experts suggest that even if children had been child soldiers, they should be mainly treated as victims and not perpetrators. They should be rehabilitated and reintegrated into society.

US has the highest rate of children in detention centres: UN study

The Afghanistan government's policies to prevent ill-treatment of detainees, linked to ongoing conflict, in the war-torn country's prisons were having an effect, but they were far from sufficient as torture of prisoners is likely still widespread in these jails, the United Nations&nbsp;has said.&nbsp;

Based on interviews with more than 600 detainees and published jointly by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), their latest report on the treatment of prisoners in 77 facilities in 28 out of 34 provinces indicates that an average of nearly one in three, provided "credible and reliable" accounts of suffering.

In the previous reporting period, covering 2015 and 2016, the ratio was closer to four in 10, it said noting that an "encouraging reduction" in the level of abuse since 2016 have been witnessed.

Beatings was the most common form of torture and ill-treatment, according to the report, which also noted that "the vast majority" of detainees held for alleged links to extremist group ISIS (also known as Daesh) or other opposition forces, said they had been tortured or ill-treated to force them to confess - and that the treatment stopped once they did so.

Significant differences in the treatment of detainees were found depending on the jail where they are held, with one Afghan National Police (ANP) facility in Kandahar, linked to a 77 per cent torture rate - well above the 31 per cent ANP average.&nbsp;

The Kandahar findings included allegations of "brutal" forms of torture such as "suffocation, electric shocks, pulling of genitals and suspension from ceilings", the UNAMA and the OHCHR said, while underlining that abuse allegations in ANP detention centres had fallen - from a 45 per cent average since 2016.&nbsp;

The report, which finds that youngsters are at higher risk of suffering mistreatment, discusses how detainees' rights are violated in other areas.&nbsp;

These include a lack of legal safeguards to prevent torture, difficulties in gaining access to lawyers and the continued absence of accountability for perpetrators, with very limited referrals to prosecution.&nbsp;

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Michelle Bachelet, said the report's findings demonstrated that the embattled Government's policies put in place to combat torture and ill-treatment were having an effect, but they were far from sufficient.

"A year ago, on this day, the Government of Afghanistan committed itself to the prevention of torture by acceding to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture," Bachelet said.&nbsp;

"I urge the Government to work swiftly to create a National Preventive Mechanism to ensure independent, impartial scrutiny of the treatment of detainees. A well-resourced watchdog of this sort, which is able to make unannounced visits to places of detention and raise awareness of what constitutes torture and ill-treatment according to international human rights law, can go a long way towards the ultimate goal of fully eradicating torture."

Also highlighted in the report are concerns over an Afghan National Army-run detention facility in Parwan, in the north-east of the country.&nbsp;

These include overcrowding and the use of solitary confinement as the sole disciplinary measure, despite progress and "tangible results" made by the Government in implementing a national plan to eliminate torture.

"We welcome the steps taken by the Government to prevent and investigate cases of torture and ill-treatment over the past two years," said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN Special Representative for Afghanistan.&nbsp;

"However... There is still a long way to go to eradicate this horrendous practice among conflict-related detainees, he added. "Respect for the rule of law and human rights is the best way to create the conditions for sustainable peace."

The Afghanistan government's policies to prevent ill-treatment of detainees, linked to ongoing conflict, in the war-torn country's prisons were having an effect, but they were far from sufficient as torture of prisoners is likely still widespread in these jails, the United Nations has said.

The Afghanistan government's policies to prevent ill-treatment of detainees, linked to ongoing conflict, in the war-torn country's prisons were having an effect, but they were far from sufficient as torture of prisoners is likely still widespread in these jails, the United Nations has said. Based on interviews with more than 600 detainees and published jointly by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), their latest report on the treatment of prisoners in 77 facilities in 28 out of 34 provinces indicates that an average of nearly one in three, provided "credible and reliable" accounts of suffering. In the previous reporting period, covering 2015 and 2016, the ratio was closer to four in 10, it said noting that an "encouraging reduction" in the level of abuse since 2016 have been witnessed. Beatings was the most common form of torture and ill-treatment, according to the report, which also noted that "the vast majority" of detainees held for alleged links to extremist group ISIS (also known as Daesh) or other opposition forces, said they had been tortured or ill-treated to force them to confess - and that the treatment stopped once they did so. Significant differences in the treatment of detainees were found depending on the jail where they are held, with one Afghan National Police (ANP) facility in Kandahar, linked to a 77 per cent torture rate - well above the 31 per cent ANP average. The Kandahar findings included allegations of "brutal" forms of torture such as "suffocation, electric shocks, pulling of genitals and suspension from ceilings", the UNAMA and the OHCHR said, while underlining that abuse allegations in ANP detention centres had fallen - from a 45 per cent average since 2016. The report, which finds that youngsters are at higher risk of suffering mistreatment, discusses how detainees' rights are violated in other areas. These include a lack of legal safeguards to prevent torture, difficulties in gaining access to lawyers and the continued absence of accountability for perpetrators, with very limited referrals to prosecution. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Michelle Bachelet, said the report's findings demonstrated that the embattled Government's policies put in place to combat torture and ill-treatment were having an effect, but they were far from sufficient. "A year ago, on this day, the Government of Afghanistan committed itself to the prevention of torture by acceding to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture," Bachelet said. "I urge the Government to work swiftly to create a National Preventive Mechanism to ensure independent, impartial scrutiny of the treatment of detainees. A well-resourced watchdog of this sort, which is able to make unannounced visits to places of detention and raise awareness of what constitutes torture and ill-treatment according to international human rights law, can go a long way towards the ultimate goal of fully eradicating torture." Also highlighted in the report are concerns over an Afghan National Army-run detention facility in Parwan, in the north-east of the country. These include overcrowding and the use of solitary confinement as the sole disciplinary measure, despite progress and "tangible results" made by the Government in implementing a national plan to eliminate torture. "We welcome the steps taken by the Government to prevent and investigate cases of torture and ill-treatment over the past two years," said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN Special Representative for Afghanistan. "However... There is still a long way to go to eradicate this horrendous practice among conflict-related detainees, he added. "Respect for the rule of law and human rights is the best way to create the conditions for sustainable peace."

Afghanistan made progress against torture in detention centres, but needs to do more: UN report

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