We’ve been sedating immigrants?

Perusing the first issue of the State Press after class this morning, I stumbled upon an article which discussed the ACLU’s lawsuit to prevent immigration agents from sedating captured illegals without a court order.

“Immigration officials have acknowledged that 56 deportees were given psychotropic drugs during a seven-month period in 2006 and 2007 even though most had no history of mental problems…”

I’m surprised this didn’t get more coverage in the blogosphere. It seems to me that immigration officials (not medically trained) shooting up these people with tranq darts (think Will Ferrell in Old School) like it’s a carnival game should scare even the law-abiding citizens out here.

Here are some interesting questions this article raises for me:

• Are police officers allowed to sedate citizens?
• On what grounds?
• How often does this occur?
• Have any deaths resulted?

I know the police are using tasers and other (supposedly) non-lethal weapons, but it seems like chemical sedation breeches a new level.