You scoff, but history is full of democracies that did things like that. Recent history. Governments can go bad, and we should be especially wary in an age when technology gives then extra leverage. I wonder if there will come a day when it's impossible to overthrow your government - or if we're already there.

Edit: actually thinking you might be seriously talking about conditions for illegal immigrants detained in the US. Hyperbole, but still not a nice situation.