Fuhgetaboutit Joey Newsletter

Fuhgetaboutit Joey Newsletter

“The newsletter CDOC case managers won't read..."¹

To: Gov. Hickenlooper

From: Michael J. McCarthy - CDOC #106515

Re: Immigrant Prisoners Paroled; but held indefinitely at taxpayer’s expense, for ICE transfer from Dept. of Corrections (DOC)

Dear Gov. Hickenlooper,

Hi!

Here is your copy of the, “Fuhgetaboutit Joey Newsletter," the newsletter managers won't read, but I'm hoping you do.

Joey refers to Parole head Joe Morales. Fuhgetaboutit refers to his dismissiveness. The subtitle refers to case managers who falsely deny not reading.

Recently, due to a column by Alan Pendergast, “Awaiting Deportation, Immigrant Prisoners Costing Taxpayers $37 Million A Year," 01 March 2017, Westword; the Colorado Parole Board conducted SB11-241 “file reviews" of non-violent immigrant prisoners past their parole eligibility dates. The Parole Board hasn't complied with SB11-241, costing taxpayers over $200 million since 2011. Now, the system has complicated matters even further. Let me explain:

In May the Colo. Board of Parole conducted their first-round of SB11-241 “file reviews" and Julian Gomez-Hernandez (CDOC#173644; Fed. Detainer#43-836-013), and up to 500 others were granted parole to their ICE detainers. That was over 60 days ago, and Julian still hasn't been turned over to ICE. Bear in mind, from county jails, ICE only has 3 days to pick up immigrant prisoners.

...72 hours to pick up immigrant prisoners.

The CDOC is now operating its own Guantanamo Bay-like operation. Gomez-Hernandez's case manager, Mr. Wold (719)395-7363, informed him that he could be released to ICE from one week to a year, or more...the CDOC has no idea when ICE will pick him up. Yet, legally, he is paroled to ICE jurisdiction. At this juncture, some immigrant inmates doubt the DOC has notified ICE of their availability.

In the meantime, taxpayers are shelling out $37,500 per year to house, feed, clothe, (appear to) educate, and provide (again, appearance only) medical services to a “paroled man," times hundreds of other SB11-241 prisoners awaiting deportation. It's enough to have D. Trump pull-out all of his hair plugs.

The legislators created SB11-241 to save money and prevent such a log jam – and the system has worked its way around the Bill to maintain the status quo.

Throughout parts of Colorado, ICE has been rounding-up immigrants with no criminal records or traffic tickets from schools, churches, courts, and employers. Many of these immigrants have lived in America since they were children.

And here; Julian G-H is ready to leave; a felon with an ICE detainer; paroled to ICE jurisdiction. The Colorado DOC (which is overcrowded) willfully, and possibly illegally, are detaining immigrant prisoners until ICE is good and ready to retrieve them.

...retrieve them.

Ironically, Colorado citizens and Gov. John Hickenlooper were largely against holding Guantanamo Bay detainees in Colorado's federal facilities. Now, without so much as a whimper, Colorado taxpayers are detaining “paroled prisoners" with the same lack of due process, at nearly $40,000 per prisoner, per year. There are hundreds of SB11-241 qualified prisoners for ICE removal, which could equate to $37 million per year in tax dollars for more vital programs.

For now; after a big breakfast, Julian G-H will watch TV; listen to music on his tablet (that has no educational programming); hit the gym, and take-in the scenic mountain view and sunshine; courtesy of Colorado taxpayers and the incompetent folks “managing" the prison system.

Author—Michael J. McCarthy is a prisoner at Buena Vista Minimum Center.