But there the similarities end. Flight attendants have been replaced by burly ex-cops, drink carts are absent and the passengers aren't necessarily enjoying the free ride. The projected number of moves for fiscal year 2001, which began Oct. 1, is 163,369. The increased traffic is a sore point with immigrant advocates, who argue that arbitrary movements prevent INS detainees from mounting an adequate legal defense. Officers will tell, however, about the occasional scuffle.
Inmates sometimes slip their handcuffs and have to be wrestled back into restraints.
One recently tore off a piece of the plane and was fashioning it into a shiv. If they think I'm a bad ass, fine, they'll leave me alone. Security is tight on the flights, with officers posted in the rear, center and front of the cabin and others continuously patrolling the aisles. Officers are unarmed, but there are shotguns, handguns and stun guns onboard. Any prisoner who doesn't obey directions quickly finds himself surrounded and subdued.