A school teacher from Burma. A monk from Tibet. A human rights advocate from Guinea. What do they have in common? They all came to the United States seeking protection from political, religious or other persecution. Instead, they were greeted with handcuffs and prison uniforms -- detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE, an arm of the Department of Homeland Security) in jails and prison-like facilities in the United States.

They...