ICE claims on detainee release are suspect; agency paid for art classes, hanging plants

DHS chief Napolitano claims she wasn't involved in ICE's decision to release detainees from facilities. (Photo:U.S. Government)The official Democrat narrative is that the sequester made it necessary for Immigrations and Customs officials to release hundreds of illegal aliens from detention centers.

The release was attributed to looming funding cuts, but that claim flies in the face of money ICE spent on frivolities like art classes, hanging plants and bingo night.

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Underground immigration rumbles with no-confidence vote in ICE leaders

Updated on Friday, August 6, 2010 at 5:48PM by Kay B. Day, Editor

When the US Government acts to undermine federal law, it can take awhile for information to surface. After some media ran stories about Immigration and Customs officials’ intent to ‘make detention centers more humane,’ a new story is making the rounds. Officers and agents have issued a ‘no confidence’ vote in  assistant secretary of Homeland Security for ICE John Morton and Office of Detention Policy and Planning assistant director Phyllis Coven.

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Article 32 for Capt. Carl Bjork in Iraq—the desecration of a hero

Commentary by Kay B. Day

Update May 11: Capt. Carl Bjork's verdicts are in--a mixed blessing. Read our latest article about Bjork's trial and sentencing, Capt. Bjork's verdict--a study in trickle down policy...

Update Feb. 12: Since this story was written new facts have emerged about Capt. Carl Bjork's case. His accusers are not 'insurgents.' They are former Iraqi police officials. Please read Milblogger's post a backgrounder for Capt. Carl Bjork's case.

Capt. Carl Bjork awaits word on the outcome of testimony given as part of an Article 32 hearing in Iraq, undertaken because Iraqi “insurgents” accused the captain of murder. Before we talk about those Iraqis, we need to talk about the captain.

People have emailed and phoned me to talk about Bjork. The overwhelming impression I’ve formed—the captain is a man among men.

One man who wishes to remain anonymous knows Bjork well, from running missions together. Bjork, said my caller, “has detained hundreds of insurgents…he was promoted from lieutentant to captain after serving in Iraq…he was in charge of training Iraqi police. He’s the ultimate American soldier. He does everything by the book. He even read the Koran before he went to Iraq. He would never do anything unlawful.”

Photo from the Facebook group page Support Carl Bjork. Anyone can join the group.
Bjork’s attorney Victor Kelley told Washington Times radio show host Rick Amato on Wednesday Bjork has received the Bronze Star and a number of commendations for his service.

My caller said he heard from Bjork recently. “His Article 32 ended Wednesday…they have a certain amount of time before they decide whether to court martial him or not.” My caller said Bjork learned he was being investigated after he left Iraq. “Then they stuck him at Ft. Knox…they wouldn’t let him leave or get promoted…they kept him stuck in his job.”

Kelley, whose law firm includes the division The National Military Justice Group, has done two interviews with Amato. The US Report has attempted to contact Kelley but we realize his travel schedule and commitments more than likely have him time challenged.

Kelley told Amato in the second interview there were between 14-20 witnesses in the hearing. The accusations are levied by 4 Iraqi “insurgents.” Kelley dropped a bombshell.

“Several CID agents testified telephonically, and one NCIS and the lead agent…it’s pretty remarkable. [The lead agent] testified he was questioning one of the Iraqis and the Iraqi suggested bringing another witness in over inconsistencies…and then they brought Iraqi #3 in…and then #4…they’re getting information through an interpreter…he’s getting different signals.”

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Facebook group draws 39,251 members supporting Navy SEALs facing charges

by Kay B. Day

Exclusive: The US Report

The Facebook group ‘Support The Navy Seals who Captured Ahmed Hashim Abed’ has drawn 39,251 members who want to support 3 Navy SEALs facing charges over an alleged terrorist detained in Iraq. The group's numbers rise by the minute.

The detainee was described by Fox News who broke the story as “one of the most wanted terrorists in Iraq.” Fox said Ahmed Hashim Abed allegedly masterminded “the murder and mutilation of four Blackwater USA security guards in Fallujah in 2004.” A lawyer representing one of the SEALs told Fox the detainee accused the SEALs of punching him in the gut. That alone is enough to mobilize public sentiment among members of both major political parties. But the story is more complicated than that.

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US aims for better benefits, medical care for illegals

Part 1 in a series on immigration
By Kay B. Day

A CBO border patrol agent pats down a suspect prior to returning him to Mexico. Curiously, CBO recently announced that in a case unrelated to this photo, the Brownsville office (Tex.) recently intercepted a shipment of thousands of scorpions and ants.[Photo by Gerald L. Nino, US Customs and Border Protection.]Democrats have garnered votes from advocacy groups who want no restrictions on immigration, and proposals from the Dept. of Homeland Security may somewhat satisfy those advocacy groups and organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union. The Los Angeles Times said DHS secretary Janet Napolitano plans for the department “to create a system to better identify medical and mental health issues and to help manage care.” The Times summed up the approach: “Nonviolent immigrant detainees could be held in converted hotels, nursing homes or placed in electronic ankle bracelets for monitoring as part of a series of reforms planned for the nation's detention system…”

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