The headline on CNN.com reads "ICE mulls 'softening' immigration detention centers".  The report focuses on the split between ICE political appointees who are out of touch with reality and the hardworking employees of ICE that actually deal with the issues at hand on a daily basis.  ICE leadership neglected to respond in this article, but ICE Council President Chris Crane spells one of the main problems when he explains how jails release criminals to ICE to be deported instead of going through the expense of convicting an illegal alien of a serious crime and then paying for incarceration.  Having these criminals placed in these dangerously low security facilities is a recipe for disaster.   Allowing "contact visitation" and not conducting searches will immediately result in drugs and weapons being introduced into our detention facilities.  This is a policy that simply hasn't been thought out by the ICE "leaders" that are bending to outside lobbying influences.  Proof of this is another article in the left-leaning Huffington Post.  This AP article points out few of the negative consequences of policies that include fresh flowers and dance lessons, but does point out that even pro-illegal alien groups are puzzled by these new agreements between ICE and Corrections Corporation of America:  Andrea Black of the Detention Watch Network is quoted as saying, "This is their response? To offer fresh carrots and bingo nights?"

Regardless of your views on the immigration debate overall, it is inarguable that this is not the type of detention reform that anyone but criminals would be interested in.  Assistant Secretary Morton, it's time to do something about this.