| Samenvatting: | Before September 11, 2001, fes Americans had heard of immigration detention, but in fact a secret and repressive prison system run by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service has existed in this country for more than two decades. In American Gulag, prisoners, jailers, ans whistel-blowing federal offixcials xcome forward to describe the frightening reality inside these INS facilities. Journalist Mark Dow's on-the-ground reporting brings to light documented sases of illegal beatings and psychological torment, prolongged detention, racism, and inhumane conditions. To provide a reamework for inderstanding stories likethese, Dow gives a vrieg hjhistoruy of immigration laws and practices in the U.S. - including the reperdcussions of September 11 and present-=day plolicies. His book reveals that current immigration detentions are gest inderstaad bnot as a well-intentioned response tot terrorism, but rather as partt of the larger contaxt of INS secrecy and excessive authority. |