Scouring media outlets nationwide, it is evident that Operation Streamline – which was shut down by human rights activists on Oct 11 in Tucson – remains “America’s dirty little secret.”

One of the media outlets reporting on this unprecedented action – which included blocking the entrance to the federal courthouse’s parking lot – plus the disabling of two immigration buses – elicted this response from readers:

“They should be shot on site.”

“Just run them over.”

While many will decry this wanton display of inhumanity – the lens should not be cast on these types of dehumanized bigots. The problem with this nation’s immigration system is not the crypto-fascists outside of government. The problem isn’t even extreme right-wing Tea Party Republicans (am I repeating myself?). Instead, in this case, it should be focused on the operation itself. While the Bush administration created it, the operation belongs to the Obama administration.

The first question people should ask is: why does this operation even exist?

Make no mistake; Operation Streamline is the judicial equivalent of torture and political violence… but with a profit motive. I’ve said it before and will say it again: not even in apartheid South Africa did that nation have a similar daily operation, masquerading as a judicial procedure. And yet, here, in the supposed freest and most democratic country in the world, this sham court proceeding not only continues to exist, but as proposed in the current comprehensive immigration bill, it is slated to triple in size and budget.

The private prison industry is dancing in the streets on this one. It is the benefactors of this 90-minute court proceeding that sees between 60-70 brown prisoners per day, tried, convicted, sentenced and shipped off to a private prison.

I believe that the only reason this operation continues to exist is because most Americans are unaware of its actual existence and most importantly, because most Americans have not been inside one of these courtrooms to witness this complete abomination and mockery of justice.

To not rehash a description of what goes on inside this operation, please read: Operation Streamline: Expedited Indian Removal (http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/19328-operation-streamline-expedited-indian-removal).

Suffice to say that people took the extraordinary step – worthwhile of a Hollywood action movie – to “commandeer” two migra buses… on their way from the INS detention facility across town to the courtroom – and to blockade the entrance to Tucson’s federal courthouse parking lot. Both actions prevented the buses from entering the courthouse, causing the operation to be shut down for the day.

Everyone that took part in the shutdown understood that there could be consequences, yet that was not deterrence. As a result, 24 protestors were arrested on an assortment of charges, with 12 being charged with felony interference with prosecution.

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE: Dr Cintli: Operation Streamline Shutdown: Si preguntan porque? – If they ask why?.