Change the asylum laws that one must apply in their own country to apply for asylum in the USA.
Merit point system that Canada uses.
No sanctuary cities; no driver licenses.
No birthright citizenship; no chain migration.
USA for legal American citizens
13
It's just my opinion but if congress had provided the money to stop the mass migration through the border, there wouldn't be overcrowded facilities.
And if congress had provided the money requested to cope with the massive influx of illegal aliens the conditions would have been better.
But to stand by and complain that the immigration laws, as weak as they are, should not be enforced is ridiculous. How many other laws should we ignore because they are broken every day? Perhaps speeding shouldn't be enforced. Maybe underage drinking shouldn't be enforced. Of course no drug laws should be enforced either.
Why is only this law the one that should be ignored? Or should we declare that anyone that may have a lower standard of living immediately be given a visa so they can come sick and penniless. That's about 2 billion people +- and since we have no limits for illegal immigration why bother with the visas at all?
13
This is a mass migration of third world, largely unskilled people who feel that the have an intrinsic right to migrate to the United State and benefit from all our government can offer.
We no longer should consider individual claims for asylum from this migratory deluge. They should be interdicted at the border and immediately returned to the other side of the border. Those who manage to go beyond the border or overstay visas should be deported forthwith.
It is the goal of the left to superimpose the third world on the American citizenry, and thus accelerate their goals of political, economic and social change.
These people who attempt this mass population movement do so of their own accord. The American people are not responsible for their safety, health, or welfare.
13
Can someone with historical knowledge tell me how far we are from these places becoming concentration camps? We have an unconcerned President and Cabinet. The GOP majority in the Senate are passively cheering Trump along. The Democrats are busy doing something. We have racist CBP/SS troops with a hateful Facebook page.
Overcrowded, standing room only cages, bad food, no toiletries, in essence people left to rot in plain sight. I am guessing Gas chambers are not that far off. The CBP and the Homeland goons will tell us they are delousing or fumigation sites or even something more clever.
5
Pretty Simple fix. Change the Asylum policy. It's clear the rules surrounding asylum are lax and being gamed. Some applicants for asylum have suspiciously similar stories, using identical phrases. Many simply use the system to enter the U.S. and then melt into the shadows or gain a work permit. Asylum is meant to be granted to a very small amount of people in extreme circumstances, not as a substitute for the process of immigration itself. The initial standard for asylum is far too broad and that while the murder rate in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala has been cut in half, thousands of migrants are falsely claiming asylum due to "violence." ie I want a better economic opportunity in the US! Hundreds of millions of people who live around the world in poor, unstable regions where threats of violence abound, could easily apply for asylum.The homicide rate in Honduras dropped by more than a third from its peak, in 2011, to 2016. The homicide rate in Guatemala dropped by nearly half from the peak year, 2009, to 2016. Yet only after 2014 did Central American asylum seekers begin arriving in large numbers. Migration builds on itself. So long as American and European wages greatly exceed those in large portions of the rest of the world, the number of would-be migrants will continue to rise. I think as Americans we could use the money spent on this to better our schools, infrastructure and reduce our $22T debt. But what do I know I am just an independent voter who pays for it
15
But.......... wait, Kellyann Conway said these allegations are not true!
8
Nancy P and Chuck S..are you listening, are you seeing, are you believing, are you still against impeachment as tanks roll down the streets of Washington? Do you regret giving those federal judges to Trump in exchange for Immigration Reform that never happened. Do you regret signing that bill for ISIS which will start its ugly raids after July 4th since there's nothing to stop them. Democrats do you still have your feet stuck in the mud of "just don't believe what you see or hear" about cruelty and absolute hatred and bigotry and hypocrisy. Our Country, Sweet Land of Liberty...not so. Impeachment hearing must start July 5th, before your loving recess is over.
All those who think immigrants should be punished...who's next when that runs out to torture. Soon those who live in poverty, can't pay their electric bill, can't pay their hospital bill, can't pay their rent, will Jim Crow find its way to you as well and remove your voice and imprison you for the same. Be careful what you preach against, or hate or draw a difference between..it will come back to you in so many other ways. Political power rests in the hands who buys it now. The street protests have stopped. Too many Democrats in the pot..dividing us all further. We need a leader, not "we should have those discussions later". We need to choose a leader and get behind whomever now to stop this madness.
11
@nightfall
How come you still don't realize by now that the GOP is the problem here, and not merely Trump?
6
@ Matt, "Democrats are finally realizing this is not a “manufactured crisis”........This twisting of the facts and the truth has been trying find traction in various ways on all platforms of social media and fox(of course) for many weeks and months as a way to smear Dems with Trumps scarlet letter of 'I' - Ignorance. Foolish anf blind ignorance.
The Dems a year ago and before, with every iteration of Trump's malignant behavior, have been sounding the alarm - Trump is the crisis. He started this firestorm and with focus and determination, and he keeps pouring on the gasoline of fear and hatred from his bully pulpit. Where were you last year when Dems were shouting Trump can't treat babies and children and families beings like garbage? Trumps deliberate and purposeful rhetoric to create more chaos, his labeling human beings animals, his stopping the funding of the northern triangle counties, achieved I think his goal. "Us vs. Them. And i am the messiah..." To get an understanding of the long term affects of Trump to Our nation that WILL, not MIGHT, trickle down to ALL people, we should bend our stiff necks to listen to the psychiatrists, psychologists and sociologists and especially listen to God.
3
Really getting tired of the endless histrionics, ad nauseam, over the issue of illegal foreign migrants and their children. We have over 20 MILLION illegal aliens residing in this country, with tens of thousands more trespassing across our southern border every month...enticed by the promise of free health insurance, birthright citizenship, and sanctuary from immigration law enforcement.
What....we don’t have enough cultural and ideological divisiveness, poverty, homelessness, and violence in this country that we have to import more chaos? Our hospitals, schools, infrastructure, and environmental resources aren’t sufficiently burdened?
Unless you dream of living in an impoverished, overpopulated, environmentally degraded third world country without ever leaving home, you will immediately come to your senses and demand an end to the brazen exploitation of our country’s sovereignty and citizenry by foreign nationals who are NOT entitled to be here.
19
And pray tell, other than the accident of birth, what entitles you to be here?
11
The Instagram Trump military parade is costing tens of millions of dollars - possibly crossing the $100,000,000 mark. Trumps golf trips have cost even more.
What are we talking about? Human life over a Putin military spectacle? Not my president. What is wrong with America?
9
That deserves to be celebrated with fireworks and a military parade and flyover jet acrobatics paid for with funds from the underfunded public Park Services.
2
These people know what they're getting into. They enter the country ILLEGALLY. If they don't want to be separated they can take their children back with them or not ILLEGALLY cross the border. We have laws for a reason, to protect the LEGAL CITZENS of this country. We simply cannot afford all these people and everyone who thinks those of us who are being taxed to death to pay for all their 'socialism' are not empathetic I have to say why don't you step up and sponsor some of these people and let them live with you?
11
Trump friendly private contractors are getting fat government to house these immigrants at daily rates of up to 700 dollars per day for dormitory bunk beds that are two feet from the next ones.
As a comparison, the Trump Washington, DC hotel charges a daily rate of 650 dollars for an entire room.
Guess John Kelly is making a bundle of bucks in his new job as one of those contractors.
And guess who is going to get those private seats next to Trump when he gives that Russia Dependence day speech.
2
“These are not facilities that are designed to hold people for more than three days,” said Representative Will Hurd of Texas, the only Republican representing a border district. “You shouldn’t be holding anybody in these facilities for more than that.”
Some migrants clogged their toilets with blankets and socks in order to be released from the crowded cells. When some refused to return, Border Patrol brought in a special operations team “to use force if necessary.”
Clearly this is a problem of immigrants just being bored (sarcasm).
4
These look very much like prisons, which reflects how this administration considers these migrants - yet even prisons (where some of Trump’s close collaborators are ending up) provide more space and amenities.
6
You will have the same for as long as Democrats control the House. That is their only idea of winning future elections. Namely, hope that these folks will somehow get to vote, and hopefully vote Democratic.
For the rest, they couldn't care less about them as humans. They didn't appropriate any funds for them, when the acting Secretary of Home Security came begging for the last few months. The cost appears to be $30 million/day, since the $4.5 bn which was recently approved will last for 1/2 year, that is 150 days.
The administration sent to the House a proposed merit based immigration. Nancy Pelosi declared it DOA, before even looking at it, saying that it would imply that these fellows, many of whom don't even speak Spanish but only local languages, are without merit. The multimillionaire Pelosi is now happily on careless vacation. Trump tries to make Mexico help.
The US is in such good economic shape that we could afford to have the best of the best in the world come in. I have great students from here, but also from India and even Kazakhstan in my math physics classes now.
My cousin entered Canada 20 years ago from Eastern Europe on their point system, with points for age, education, health. He is now a Civil Engineering professor at the U of Toronto, and also works for a consulting company reinforcing buildings. I came 40 years ago, skied the first day and started teaching QFT math and physics the second day. I was part of an NSF grant supporting my research...
8
The only way to address this problem is at the source. Create jobs in their countries. Incentivize companies to move there and open factories. Companies are moving from China to southeast Asia. Why not entice them to move to Central America with 10 year tax breaks and a tariff free zone? Unless you fix it at the source migrants will keep coming. Nafta did a lot for Mexico and helped stop the flow of Mexican migrants.
5
The word "asylum" is inapplicable to these migrants. By international law, "the applicant must prove that he or she would be persecuted on account of one of five protected grounds: race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or particular social group."
Poverty and gang violence do not qualify as justifications for asylum.
They are continuing to try for the USA for the benefits. Merely desiring a better life is not grounds for obtaining asylum.
Finally: Even if they are adjudged as deserving asylum: The president of Mexico offered asylum to the folks in the first caravan months ago. International practice is that those seeking asylum are entitled to accept the first offer, particularly when they are already in country. No other country is obligated to accept them.
For them to continue north with the intent of crossing the US/Mexico border illustrates that they are past seeking asylum. They had that, then.
14
Where is the governor of Texas in all this? This is happening in his state It's one thing to be tough on immigration but this is cruelty and inhumane. He needs to step in with some resources and not pass the buck to the Feds.
1
Yes, it is Congress' fault and responsibility by not passing adequate funds to pay for a wall, provide adequate housing, etc. and support the Border Patrol. There is no question that there are far too many people coming to our borders than our economy can handle. They must be stopped further down the trail provided for in their own country. God Bless America for being so open to everyone.
4
This article states: “To deter migration to the border, the department (Homeland Security) recently threatened to start nationwide raids to deport undocumented families, which President Trump said will begin after July 4.”
“Nationwide raids” against residents presumably living peacefully in cities everywhere.
Most of us know what parts of past world history document such cruel nationalistic behavior by authoritarians in power.
6
It's insane that for this horrible squalor we're spending $750 per person per day! For that much, we could put them up comfortably in a Trump hotel, 2-4 to a room.
7
Every border patrol agent involved in the Facebook group should have to stand trial.
12
Show pictures of these mistreated souls during the illegitimate one's party to himself, on the 4th
5
Considering that a certain faction insists upon enticing millions of foreign migrants with promises of free health insurance, drivers licenses, legal advocacy, and sanctuary from law enforcement....is it any wonder that the border is overwhelmed?
16
@Michal
FYI: under Obama, immigration numbers were MUCH lower, it's only when Trump took over that they all of a sudden increased.
Apparently, threatening to end all immigration and then building no wall at all made much more people hurry to the border than passing Obamacare, which only insures documented Americans...
In the meanwhile, Obama managed to get a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill through the Senate already in 2013, which TRIPLED the number of border patrol agents, installed e-verify etc. Why wasn't it signed into law? Because the GOP House refused to allow a vote on it.
So did the GOP Congress then pass it under Trump? No. Did they pass a wall bill? No. Even not after they told us that their new leader was a MASTER in the "art" of the deal. No deal at all.
So no, it isn't any wonder that the border is overwhelmed. As long as a significant part of the American people will continue to refuse to fact-check, we'll continue to elect fake presidents and our problems, obviously, will only become worse.
6
I thought the media and Democratic leadership was just telling us that this was a “manufactured crisis” on our hands?
15
I’m not sure what’s so tricky about separating physical realities from the causes of physical realities, since if you climb the Golden Gate, fall off and die, that hardly means you shoulda been up there in the first place.
I think a couple of you folks have got a couple of your myths confused, so lemme help. One of your bellows is that Democrats said there was no crisis. A different bellow is that Democrats said Trump is whomping this up for some bizarre reason.
The first bellow is more or less true, except that when Democrats said that, there wasn’t anything like this much of a mess. The second is also true, and a bit unfair—it underestimates Teump’s sheer incompetence.
5
@Matt In many respects it is. Under Obama, most were released and 99% showed up to their court hearings. Trump canceled this program and implemented the current mess.
3
@Robert " when Democrats said that, there wasn’t anything like this much of a mess."
THAT is a myth. When the Democrats said that it was a manufactured crisis, there were 100k/month entering, about 1 million/year.
I remember, because I said here that people who don't notice a million people should not be representatives of humans. But instead raise chickens, if they are able to see chickens. Or sing, if they are able to see notes.
4
Shame on this country. Despite a tough situation, we can do better than this! We have to! It’s no secret the Trump admin is using these harsh conditions/tactics to deter immigration, and we should all be ashamed. We say border patrol is overwhelmed and we don’t have the facilities, but we have millions to waste on a dictator-style military parade on July 4th. Gimme a break! This country used to be known for taking in the world’s huddled-masses, now it just creates them.
9
As disturbing as these unpleasant conditions are in these centers what is truly offensive is the rhetoric of ignorant politicians who decry the 'concentration camps' description. Have any of them ever studied history or are they simply so anti Semitic they simply do not care how absurd their accusations are. For the politicians who don't know- here are a few actual truths that took place in real concentration camps. "Prisoners worked 10 hours per day on 1300-1500 calories per day. Roll calls started at 3 AM and often went on until mid morning. Diarrhea was rampant and many had to eat out of the same bowls that they relieved themselves in. Those who disobeyed were hanged publicly, usually during the roll call so others could see what could happen to them." Oh, I forgot to mention something called gas chambers. For congress members/newspapers to call what is occurring on the border as concentration camps is ludicrous and demeaning to those who felt the boot of real suffering 80 years ago.
6
The conditions at the border are appalling. And yet, I'm sure the American homeless would love to be inside a cool building, snacking on sandwiches.
16
The only thing more appalling then the situation at the border are the American citizens like yourself, condoning it, justifying it, and making insane parallels to do so.
8
@Mimi. Which photos are you looking at?
2
@Karen Armstrong I am referring to the part of the text that says migrants were seen "lying on worn gym mats and snacking on sandwiches."
2
Looking at these photos, I am sickened that this is taking place in the United States of America. I find it hard to even take in. To all those who proclaim to be Christians and still defend these crimes against humanity: it's time to look in the mirror. Imagine, if you dare, what Jesus would say about these abuses.
Remind yourselves, if you dare, what he did say about our treatment of others in distress. And spare us your hypocrisy.
This obscene government mistreatment of children - in word and deed - must stop at once.
8
And Fox News is reporting that the report is a hoax. There could be no greater distortion of facts.
9
Isn’t time we stop beating up on the Border Patrol and demand Congress step up to comprehensive immigration reform? The border is out of control, and Trump wants to maintain the high level of chaos, just as Ocasio-Cortez has tried to politicize the crisis. Regular people need to demand that we want Congress to do its job. Any adults in the room?
8
Regular people are demanding that these children are cared for with cleanliness and compassion. As we would wish others to care for our children.
WW II German POWs in the U.S. were housed and fed in luxury compared to this obscenity. Conditions this vile would cause any dog shelter to be prosecuted.
6
One of the reasons we have an immigration crisis of this scale is because we have so many people here in the US calling for open borders. When potential immigrants hear this, it is encouraging them to break our laws. Coming to our country by breaking the laws doesn't put you off to a good start.
Let's close the borders and invite immigrants to apply for immigration in an organized and controlled manner. That way, we can avoid these unsafe, squalid camps, as well as even out the playing field for migrants who are not connected to the US by land. Frankly, it is unfair for immigrants from Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe.
Last, I am extremely concerned about terrorism and foreign agents disguised as migrants slipping through our borders, unnoticed in the chaos. All the more reason to examine each person's papers carefully and verify their identity before entering our country. We have a right to do so and CBP does this in airports. Americans' safety comes first.
12
Dear God. These people came LEGALLY to apply for ASYLUM which is entirely lawful. They expect their papers to be checked!
2
A sane proposal.
2
@Karen Armstrong
Dear God. These people came ILLEGALLY. That is the definition of ILLEGAL and the only difference. If you're a citizen or a permanent resident or have a visa, you're entering legally. If you're not one of those 3, you're entering ILLEGALLY. Asylum allows someone to stray DESPITE entering illegally, it does not make the entry legal however. Basis for making my statement: immigration lawyer. Yours?
5
There's no accountability, it will get worse.
4
I am surprised that neither party has called for the National Guard, FEMA or the Army to step in and set up tents, air-conditioning, and the like to deal with this horrible situation. After all, the military and FEMA are capable of doing this and have done it before including overseas.
5
“We take any and every allegation of misconduct incredibly seriously,” Mr. Perez said on CNN. “And there will be consequences to those who do not adhere to our standards of conduct.”
So, Mr. Perez, when do the consequences start, and for whom?
The IG report findings and pictures document the fact that there are “those who do not adhere to our standards of conduct.”
6
Happy birthday America. How low this country has sunk.
5
Trump proclaimed that he alone can solve all problems.
He has kept this campaign promise by handing out a significant amount of policy, program & diplomatic positions to someone named Vacant.
Many may say that government never worked. Government may be flawed but now that our agencies have been “wrong” sized the outcomes of Trump’s egomaniacal management methods are busting their seams.
It’s easy to blame the “illegals” & not so easy to examine how our leaderless government is contributing to the chaos.
Vacant ambassadorships below the southern border do impact:
El Salvador - vacant until just confirmed 6/27/19
Honduras - Vacant
Mexico - Vacant - nominated 3/26/19 not confirmed
Ecuador - vacant until confirmed 5/23/19
Revolving doors at DHS & other agencies undermine efforts.
The solutions are not rocket science. Getting Trump’s government to do its job is the biggest challenge.
Trump squandered the greatest gift a president could have - Republican (his party) majority rule in his first 2 years. He is responsible for the mess for spending valuable time on radical policies that proved unconstitutional & ignoring advice from non-sycophantic knowledgeable experts.
Trump’s chaos is turning this country onto the failed nation path. The neglect & abuse of citizens (Puerto Rico) & non-citizens is spreading the Trump taint from sea to shining sea.
Reasonable immigration policy https://immigrationforum.org/article/addressing-the-increase-of-central-american-migrants/
4
There was no "border crisis" until Donald Trump became president and created one. He and his enablers own it, and it will be a black stain not only on his failed presidency but, tragically, on America.
8
The photos should be projected at Trump's Fourth of July celebration.
10
@SRF
His supporters would probably love it, imagining that he's doing something about immigration ....
Ellis Island was no Love Boat? Would anyone consider a moratorium until we can do some catch-up? It's a horrific story, but if people continue to crowd into the country, how are we to keep up? Can some people be transported to other States where there a old military installations or community centers? Stop pointing fingers at the people on the border who deal face to face with the problem everyday. They are doing what they can. It must be unbelievably hot and depressing. More mental health providers and childcare? The lines are too long.
6
Ellis Island was a century ago and involved far more people.
And we’re not blaming anybody workong to do their best at the border: we’re pointing straight at the President, who’s either doing this deliberately or even more incompetent than is usual for him.
2
Any Federal employee or contractors participating in these child abuse, inhumane, and humanitarian disasters need to be held legally accountable.
Indict, try, and convict ALL from the Directors of each agency involved (DHS, HHS, CBP, ICE) down to the managers, supervisors, and individual employees.
They have all committed crimes and atrocities and MUST be held sent to prison.
7
You know what would be the ultimate embarrassment for the U.S.? If Doctors Without Borders were to step in and provide much needed medical attention for these people. The audacity of America trying to police the rest of the world, while condoning neglect, physical and sexual abuse of these migrants is abhorrent. Shame on you, America. We have zero to be proud of. If anything, we should all be reminded of the words inscribed on the Statue of Liberty: Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
9
Wait...I thought the Democrats said that the crisis at the border was “manufactured?” And why is AOC complaining about the conditions when she was opposed to the bipartisan bill that was just passed by Congress to help the situation?
10
She opposed that Bill on the grounds she didn’t trust Trump to spend the money for the designed purposes, and this sure looks like a manufactured crisis to me.
Of course, your results may vary. Feel free to trust whatever Trump says, but I’d point out that the fact of manufacture doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.
7
@Beau Tosaka
Of course it is.
Obama's Family Case Management program allowed him to no longer incarcerate families at all, all while having 99% of them showing up in court (and being deported, when that's what the court ruled).
Trump nevertheless ended the program, and then started overloading prisons AND once again releasing people caught at the border, knowing that without Obama's program, 1 in 3 never shows up in court again and simply goes on living in the US illegally.
What is happening here is sheer incompetence on behalf of Trump.
And what AOC opposed was a relief bill that did not force Trump enough to use the money to truly bring relief. He HAS all the money needed to end this manufactured crisis immediately already, and he didn't even use it yet. So why would Congress reward him with even more money, when he can't even spend the taxpayer money he already has in an efficient and competent way?
6
@Beau Tosaka In many ways it is a manufactured crisis. In 2016 the Obama administration set up a program where most asylum seekers were released and 99% of them showed up to their court appearances. It worked out quite well. Trump canceled this program and instead just locks them up, spending $750 per day per person to house them in these inhumane conditions. On top of that, Trump cut aid drastically to the countries these people are fleeing from, exacerbating the problem.
2
On this Fourth of July we would do well to reflect on our manifest sins as a nation of immigrants.
We’re signatory to the Geneva Convention. What’s happening in our Southern borderlands violates Geneva protocols. It’s time to call for UN investigation of these crimes.
We’re have a terrible history of treating some peoples, including Haitian and Black Cuban immigrants, as subhumans. We also have treated African-American and brown citizens as deserving of summary execution by armed private citizens and law officers.
There’s a common thread here, which I hope you will join me and others who are protesting. That’s the horrifying treatment of fellow human beings as subhumans.
Some who defend the Trump Administration seem to excuse xenophobic and predatory attacks on human beings because of the alleged illegality of asylum seekers’ presence within our borders. Many Trump supporters also defend the right to kill their fellow citizens with impunity “if they feel fear.” I hope people note the parallels here.
4
Here’s a question I don’t hear asked:
Why does one’s geography (Central Americans) allow you to skip to the front of the line to seek asylum? What about those languishing in Africa and Asia? The entire asylum system is unfair.
7
My Guatemalan housekeeper came here asking for asylum (because “there are no jobs in my country) in 2015 and was in detention for almost 30 days. She paid $8,000 and came alone (most of her family was already here). Today, her entire extended family is here, and she says the cost per head is only $3,000 and children are now “free” if traveling with an adult. AND THE STAY IN DETENTION IS ONLY ONE DAY. She, her mother, two of her sisters, and three aunts all had babies this past year and receive free medical care, free English classes, and they all have drivers licenses. How exactly is eating bologna sandwiches for a few days in a crowded holding room somehow an outrageous injustice when that is the price to pay to easily enjoy having your 30 family members move from poverty to comparative utter luxury with very little risk of deportation?
10
Did you just admit to breaking the law? Hiring undocumented workers.
6
@Alexandra You are part of the problem! Shame on you!
2
@Alexandra
Why are you employing her then? You contribute to the problem.
4
Independence Day is tomorrow and yet we have to deal with this outrageous and horrible detention centers. People are on the move to run away from torture and death. Any one of us if we could run somewhere to survive, would do so in a heart beat. A few years ago we stated we would never detain people again because of what we did to Japanese Americans. Well it looks like our memory is very short. What an image of children on the floor and packed like rats in a cage. We have no leaders. All we have is our moral strength to guide us through this horrible mess our so called Pretend King has created. We cannot show up to his speech on Lincoln's memorial, an incredible slap in the face to all those who died to unite us. We have enough space, enough land and before long we will be on the move as well, climate change will make that decision for us. We not only need empathy but compassion. While you eat your hot dog or hamburger or vegan Cole slaw remember those we have incarcerated because they crossed a invisible line to change their lives for the better.
3
Democrats: right all along.
Republicans: wrong in every sense of the word.
6
@Fat Rat
Thanks for such a specific, well-supported by statistics, and logical argument. I never thought it would be possible, but you actually changed my mind!
Oh, oops, meant to reply that to a different comment. To this one - if you have nothing to say that furthers the discussion (data, arguments, alternative points of view), perhaps best is to not try destroying the existing discussion by peppering it with noise so no one would have the energy to scroll to the legitimate comments. But to the point - I guess you're saying Republicans behave "without accuracy" (that's one of the senses of "wrong" (per Merriam Webster Collegiate) and you said they're wrong in EVERY sense.
1
Republican "compassion" in action. Can anyone offer anything more than a lame excuse for this? How does this represent American ideals? And what is it about himself that Trump, who exacerbated this mess, wants us to celebrate tomorrow?
6
Seriously? Nobody wanted to build a wall or do anything about the border situation. Even when you knew immigrants were flooding the system by the thousands - daily.
Now you are shocked that conditions have become so bad? Go look at yourselves. You could have made it better years ago....even months ago. This is what happens when people deny there is a problem and won't do anything about it.
What if these people come knocking on your door some day? Then what will you do? It's not somebody else's problem. We can fix this. Stop complaining and just fix it.
6
@okiewatergirl
For that to happen, you'll have to first vote Trump out, because HE was the one who flip-flopped and refused to sign the bipartisan comprehensive immigration bill that Democrats supported, in 2017, AND that contained FULL funding of his wall (and this comes after Obama already managed to pass a similar bill in the Senate in 2013, bill that the GOP House never even voted on).
Why did he reject a bill that would have sent tens of thousands of border patrol agents to the border, AND build his wall?
Because the day before he'd sign it, he was ferociously attacked by ... a tweet.
Ann Coulter wrote that she opposed the bipartisan Dream Act included in ANY bipartisan reform bill, as 80% of the American people, including a majority of GOP voters, support it.
So instead of putting country and national security before his ratings, Trump decided to do nothing and continue his fake news tweets, thinking - correctly - that that would keep his voters much more fired up than if he'd actually start building his wall and doing something serious about immigration.
So yes, this is what happens when people deny there's a problem. ONLY when they realize that Trump and the GOP are the problem here, will things finally change.
So indeed, "stop complaining and just fix it" ...
2
Only the Democrats can ignore an alarming problem for months, see political advantage to suddenly realizing there's a problem, and then blame the President for not doing anything about it. Unbelievable. The people at the border are just a means to an end for liberals.
9
and people quibble over whether these "detention facilities" could be considered to be concentration camps? Seems the only difference is that the feds have privatized the holding of displaced people.
2
Imagine if Canadians were treated this way. “Give me that Tim Hortons bear claw and get in the cage!”
Or Eastern European fashion models on expired visas.
Fact finding missions used to be de rigueur and bi-partisen.
We should be glad that these congress members are there bearing witness pushing for an orderly solution and not at fund raisers.
Congressman Leo Ryan was quite attuned to this and would go to places like San Quentin to investigate conditions as well until he was sadly murdered at Jonestown.
It’s a shame members of the other party didn’t go like was the norm fact finding missions past.
@Merrill R. Frank Ever been sent for secondary inspection at the Canadian border? Or any other one? You might think differently if you had.
2
'Robert E. Perez, the deputy commissioner for Customs and Border Protection, said he was “very confident” his agents were providing fresh water, food and hygiene products to migrants in Border Patrol custody.'
Pants on fire.
Government officials who have seen for themselves dispute his lie.
Everyone who works for this administration subscribes to the Trumpist School of Falsification.
3
Why do I hear no anger or blame directed to those making life intolerable in those regions? Why isn't the responsibility on Mexico?
4
Democrats must answer two simple questions.
1. If you aren’t for open borders, then who will you exclude?
2. How will you exclude them?
Hundreds of commenters write thousands of words, but none can answer these two simple questions.
12
@John
What do those questions have to do with the child abuse and deplorable conditions in the camps?
It's shocking how conservatives assume that squalid conditions and family separations are somehow linked to a normal political debate about who should be allowed to immigrate.
It's not even a change of subject anymore: it's more of a hostage negotiation, as in "give us what we want on immigration or the kids don't get soap".
3
@John The standard asylum process was sufficient. Each person applying would have their cases reviewed by the court and either allowed to stay or sent back home. Those not seeking asylum for valid reasons are kicked out. The program under Obama worked. 99% of asylum seekers showed up at court and were not kept locked up.
Also, try and deal with the problem at the source. Why are people fleeing El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras? Does the cutting of foreign aid to these countries have anything to do with it? How about the massive drought and the cutting of food aid? Also, what is the cost-benefit of sending aid to the source vs spending $750/day/person locking up all the people fleeing?
2
Because open borders is a false choice. Catch and release, for lack of a better term, worked perfectly well and was far more humane.
The only “problem” with it was the immigrants did not suffer enough waiting for their court date.
3
Tomorrow’s July 4 celebrations in Washington are expected to be over-the-top, a grandiose military themed nationalistic spectacle, along the lines of the displays put on by dictators such as Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, POTUS’s besties. How groundbreaking it would have been for him to have instead utilized those funds to provide the barest necessities of life, such as water, toiletries and decent nourishment, never mind a bed to lie down on, for those poor, desperate people currently being kept under stunningly inhumane conditions.
3
Won’t be too long before the US will be added to the list of countries known for human rights violations. Such a shame we’re allowing this to happen. I am not a proud American under the Trump regime.
9
You were never a proud AMERICAN. You always thought America was a selfish unfair country oppressing folks in too many ways to count.
3
These photos are both appalling and damning. We are supposedly the "greatest nation in the world". This would suggest otherwise. This "crises" has been going on for weeks. You cannot tell me there isn't an option to decrease the crowding. Call in the military if nothing else and set up some tent camps. The issue is they want to make it so miserable the word will get out and people will stop coming - which will not work. Why every Evangelical preacher, Priest, etc isn't down there demanding change is interesting.
Somehow I doubt at Trump's military/industrial extravaganza he will be quoting a certain Prophet:
It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.
— Proverbs 14:21
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you"—when you already have it with you.
— Proverbs 3:27-28
8
This southern border immigration problem will get Trump re-elected for sure. I'm a Democratic voter but I don't see the Trump Admin as the villain here. The blame can be shared by many parties including the immigrants themselves. Why would anyone bring their baby along for such a dangerous journey? It is also about fairness and the rule of law. There are many foreign nationals waiting to get into this country and they're following the laws.
9
Those people are coming into our country illegally , breaking our laws. They don't deserve a room at a Trump Hotel. Besides they come from countries where their homes are more squalid and impure than the shelters on the border. For them, it's an upgrade. If they don't like the conditions they can simply stay in their countries. This is a classical liberal problem: giving lawbreakers a better break than tax-paying Americans. I support President Trump's attempts to arrest this liberal attack on democracy.
11
Another sane comment. Thank you.
3
How is it any worse than going to a concert at a stadium?
1
@Steve
You get to walk out of the concert anytime you want. Good grief no wonder this country is in trouble.
5
@Steve You can shower and eat and sleep in a bed after your two hour long concert.
It's like asking how going without food for two days is worse than waiting for a table.
5
If conditions are so bad it is time to close the border. For the health of those who are waiting in detention for their claims to be processed. The answer is NOT to release them into America, this would send a clear message that we really do have open borders. CLOSE THE BORDER NOW.
8
Perhaps a little context for the leftist on this thread who have forgotten that the last DEM administration did absolutely nothing about the issue and AOC voted against the recent funding before staging her latest stunt.
CNN’s Fareed Zakaria is siding with President Donald Trump regarding the crisis facing the U.S.’s asylum system, which he said is being “gamed” by many asylum seekers.
“It pains me to say this, but he is right, that the United States faces a crisis with its asylum system,” Zakaria said of Trump on his show Sunday. A much larger fix is needed,” Zakaria argued. “The criteria for asylum need to be rewritten and substantially tightened.”
It is a surprising admission by Zakaria, whose network has been heavily critical of Trump and his administration’s handling of the migrant crisis at the southern border.
Democrats have assailed the administration over conditions at border facilities housing tens of thousands of Central American migrants. But as Zakaria notes, the system has been taxed by a skyrocketing number of asylum applications. He said that 162,000 asylum claims were submitted in 2018, more than 240 percent more than in 2014. (RELATED: Here’s How The Asylum Process Is Being Exploited)
Zakaria noted that asylum was initially designed to help people fleeing regimes where they face persecution by their governments. But the standard has broadened over the years to include fears of street violence and domestic abuse threats, he said.
9
@Just 4 Play actually it was addressed fairly well in the program put in place in 2016. 99% of asylum seekers showed up to their court dates and when required were sent back home. Also, aid was sent to the countries of origin to help the people there so they didn't need to leave. Trump cut aid significantly to Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. These countries are also suffering from a massive drought when food aid has dried up.
1
Please provide a web page link to the Inspector General's report.
5
These people are not refugees fleeing war, they are economic immigrants. There are over 2 billion that would happily come tomorrow if allowed.
The US allows more immigrants (legally) than any country on the planet. The US takes in more refugees than most. And, the US is not responsible for the population growth that is inevitably causing mass exodus from so many countries. However, for all the demands made on climate change initiatives, I would point out that climate change is but a symptom of overpopulation.
14
@Ma
You say "the US is not responsible for the population growth" but the US is solely responsible for vetoing a UN resolution giving greater access to contraception.
8
Overconsumption and lifestyle by developed countries is the main cause of climate change- not the population of poor countries.
4
Yes, and how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?Your argument about causes of immigration is pointless. We are talking about actual, serious human suffering here. Suffering at the hands of the US government. That is not acceptable. Period.
4
People who say these conditions were the same under Obama need to understand a few things. If you were in a cage, at capacity, for a couple days, no problem. If a new administration creates a zero-tolerance policy that _criminalizes_ attempts to enter (unlike the previous administrations), then you're being held much longer. And now that cage is _over_ capacity and you're in it for much longer than was intended. And criminalization means _more_ family separations (unlike the previous administrations), which means young children are suffering unlike ever before.
And when the new administration changes the rules for seeking asylum _and_ people are being turned away from ports of entry, well, you have just compounded the problem.
And when the new administration uses only 6% of last year's budget but keeps claiming Congress won't give them money, well, you have lies on top of atrocities.
And when the new administration doesn't even have a system for linking parents and children and denies people their critical mediation, like to control epileptic seizures, well, there are no words.
121
@Jane
Add to that the most important difference: Obama's Family Case Management program.
He asked experts to study the fact that only 63% of those who were caught and released showed up in court, and to study what would solve this problem, so that families can be released all while showing up in court and then deported if that's what the court rules.
This program, installed in 2015, has been the direct result.
And it has been highly effective, as since then, we no longer needed to incarcerate families and children (= it cost taxpayers much less), AND a whopping 99% showed up in court.
So ... did Trump build on that?
Now. He simply abandoned it, then overloaded prisons once again, AND released many others - who, in the absence of the FCM program, will of course not all show up in court, as we know.
This isn't merely immoral, it's sheer incompetence, and a typical example of "big government", where highly expensive measures are taken even though much cheaper AND much more efficient ones already exist.
But then how would Trump keep up his image of being "tough on immigration", among his supporters, now that he has proven to be unable to get a wall bill through his GOP Congress, and unable to sign comprehensive immigration reform into law, and unable to deport 11 million illegals, and unable to repeal and replace Obamacare, and so on and so forth ... if it weren't for the media reporting inhumane treatment of immigrants at the border ... ?
20
@Jane
I am appalled that this story seems to continue everyday with slight changes that simply confuse the reader but do not change the problem.
The lawyers visit the detention center, write about horrific conditions, create an outrage and some detainees are moved out. The next day some detainees are moved back in.
Then some political representatives visit the detention center and again see the same (or worse) conditions. And the cycle seems to begin again (and again).
How many times will we allow this to happen? How many detainees will become sick or die in these
god-forbidden cages where officials simply hold up their hands in denial and blame someone else for not providing funding to alleviate the suffering?
America, we are BETTER then this!
5
@Jane
Best for all concerned and most humane, obviously--immediate bus passes back to wherever they came from.
2
Many U.S. soldiers stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq reported being pleasantly surprised by the level of hospitality demonstrated by the local people.
Afghani villagers would invite them into the poorest of homes and insist that they sit down for tea and sweets. Local people in Iraq who had spent nights cringing in bed as they heard planes soaring overhead, who were terrified that bombs might fall on them at any moment, would still smile and invite soldiers to come in for refreshment. This is called hospitality.
We actually are invaders in the Middle East, uninvited, with bombs and tanks and guns and all, and yet the local custom of many ordinary citizens made them kind.
I would like to think that we could also be kind. Aren't we lucky to only have migrants at our doorstep and not soldiers? Just because we may have a legal reason to turn people away, it doesn’t mean that we have a legal reason to be inhospitable, cold and cruel.
25
@Heather the soldiers were protecting the villagers.
@Heather
Some good thoughts.
But the questions are simply:
Would you turn anyone away from the U.S.?
If so, whom?
And how would you force them to leave?
2
I've read this book before. In the next chapter the government-types start complaining about "how many of them there are" and "what are we going to do with them all?" In the chapter after that, they figure out "what to do with them all" and I'm sure you can imagine the rest.
7
I have many republicans support trumps policies but not his character-which is what they admit is deplorable. This is why character is important. Poor character makes for poor judgement. The American empire has fallen. Believe it whether you want too or not. We have no Cicero.
13
@seattleSmarty
Even if they support his policies, they should no longer support Trump, as he didn't sign ANY of his signature campaign policies into law.
Not one.
1
For the love of compassion and decency, please contact your Senators and Representative to express your opinion on this humanitarian crisis.
13
The cruelty is the point! Donald Trump is not deporting anyone he locking these Poor People up and giving the money to his deplorable Friends!
13
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength, and You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."
17
We all have empathy for these people. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t throw out the rule of law and allow people to come here illegally. Our system is not set up to handle 100,000 people a month. Democrats are finally realizing this is not a “manufactured crisis”. Hopefully they can work with the president on securing our boarders and changing our asylum laws that are being exploited.
2
The administration of justice and the federal judges have their faces disfigured, to follow Trump administration guidelines, while the president crosses the border of North Korea to confuse the American people and the world as an act of campaign.👥
1
Donald Trump and the Republican Party are exposing to the world the rot that has existed in the USA since the beginning. Donald is too dumb to use political sleight of hand and the Republican Party no longer see the need.
8
What is happening at our borders is shameful! This is not the United States I grew up in for the last 66 years. This is Germany
under Hiltler's reign. It is getting very difficult to feel patriotic, and I'm a Veteran of the Viet Nam War and proud to have served. I am deeply saddened and astonished!
15
In the meanwhile, UNHCR has shown that already 20 million of today's 60 million refugees globally, are victims of climate change and fleeing its consequences.
All scientific studies and national security experts showed that those numbers are very low, compared to the massive immigration waves that are about to happen within one or two decades, if we don't stop climate change now.
So what will the GOP do by then? Organize a genocide at our borders, all while claiming to be the "party of values"?
The situation is too serious to let tweeters and reality tv stars handle it as if in the end, only their own "ratings" among their supporters matter.
We urgently need to go back to REAL national security policies - and find our moral compass back.
That's the only way to keep America safe again.
6
@Ana Luisa
So what is your plan?
If you aren't for open borders, who will you exclude?
1
Just a minute.
Hundreds cross the border and immediately surrender to the border patrol.
The border patrol takes them back to this facility for initial processing and the building starts to overflow with people.
Border patrol can't process people on the spot and release them - they have no choice.
Once they're processed - identified, fingerprinted (I hope), etc they get moved somewhere else where they can be held for more review and sometimes those facilities can't accept an overflow.
I have no problem with these people being held for initial processing like this. If they don't provide even basic identity info or cooperate things will take longer.
Why should we skip this? These things take time.
If you've ever been sent to secondary exam at an international airport you've been in the same situation: it always takes longer than you want.
Did you think your complaining and whining would make a difference? I have seen where that actually caused more examination, even to the point of cavity searches, rather than reduce the amount of time it took to get through this review.
The process is working and if it gets clogged up due to excessive demand then it gets clogged up. Nobody's happy.
Just remember we have no duty to make everyone who crosses the border "happy".
16
@Margo
If we can process them in a morally responsible way for decades, we can surely do so today too.
THAT's the point here, you see?
13
@Margo
Convicted violent criminals are treated better than these migrants.
Did you read the article? It goes into detail about the abuse heaped on these prisoners.
"Excessive demand" is not the cause of deliberate cruelty and deaths.
2
@Margo
Most people feel a duty, an obligation, and a desire to help others. This is a tenet of nearly every culture.
Happiness is a subjective term. Can you look at the photos and shrug?
May God have mercy on our souls.
1
Yesterday we read in these pages about one man who spent millions so he could spend time alone on his private island in a splendid, expansive, home. Today we read about migrants kept in a state of overcrowded squalor, without access to a hot meal or a cold shower. How can we reconcile these images without acknowledging that we, as a nation, are being led down a path far away from our ideals?
14
No one has been able to show that privitization of prisons and/or detention centers has resulted in savings for the American taxpayer, in fact the opposite has occurred.
Any cost-cutting measures adversely affect migrants/ detainees and increases their profit, ie. less security officers, denying or cutting back on medical services, and food etc.
Two companies CoreCivic Inc and GEO Group run just half of these and their revenue was over $4 billion in 2017.
They've spent millions on lobbying and backing the 'right' politicians to ensure their profit margins increase.
Their investment has paid off, shares increased dramatically after the 2016
election.
Earning calls detailed their optimism for increased profits with an expanded mandate under the new administration that they helped elect
They make money on the misery of others: the more they pack in, and the longer they're detained is just seen as good business.
14
@Rosiepi Except the picture is the border station and not the detention facility. There is a difference.
1
The United Nations needs to intervene immediately.
16
Most blame lies directly at the feet of Congress. If you want better facilities to handle is "non-emergency" then you have to pass bills that appropriate funding. And do so in a proactive manner, not a reactive manner.
For those claiming asylum, there are only two options. You either detain them or you effectively allow an open border to anyone making an asylum claim.
This is not the fault of Bush or Obama or Trump, this is the direct fault of Congress for not dealing with 1) the 11 million or so illegal immigrants in the country right now 2) the DACA situation, 3) border security and a tighter border, 4) adequate detention facilities to handle the influx that has been clearly seen for at least a year, 5) better laws on how to deal with children.
Obama tried to tighten up the border, he was hamstrung by policy and backed down back to catch and release. Trump is not backing down as much, he is trying harder to stop the catch a release type of policies. Neither president got the help they needed from Congress.
We are a welcoming country to those who really do have asylum claims, to those that immigrate legally, and even many who are not here legally but lead exemplary lives here. But, we cannot, and should not, be an open border country that allows in anyone 'claiming' asylum or illegal immigration or folks that are illegal and have committed crimes or folks that are ordered to be deported and have not left.
10
@Marvin
You're ignoring the outright inhuman cruelty described in the article.
1
@Marvin You're ignoring the fact that Trump didn't spend most of the money already allocated for this. The money was already there.
As for detaining people indefinitely when seeking asylum, you're wrong. Under Obama, most seeking asylum were released and 99% showed up to their court appearances.
Congress did pass bipartisan legislation to help deal with immigration that even included funding for his wall, but a tweet from Ann Coulter caused Trump to veto it.
This is excellent reporting, and I appreciate the difficult and hard work it took to produce this article. I want to call attention, however, to the repeated use of the word "migrant" where the word "person" or "man/woman" would work perfectly well. Here, for example, is how it could read differently: "Images published in the report show crowds of people packed into cells pressing their hands onto the windows. One man held a cardboard sign up reading, “Help.”
Using and repeating the word "migrant" inadvertently turns people into things. This is precisely the transformation we have the chance to reverse every time we choose our words. It's a small gesture, but they add up.
12
The destruction of the Trump regime must go into immediate effect.
9
When you are set up to care for 1000 people and instead have 30,000, you are bound to need more resources. It took until last week for the House to even agree to help. They wouldn't provide additional resources or personnel; the goal was for the country to move to open boarders out of the crisis that, frankly, both parties are culpable.
However, what are the Dems going to do to stop the illegal onslaught at the border? Insist that anyone traveling with a kid gets released into the US (i.e. encourage child trafficking). Demand that ICE be abolished (i.e. stop enforcement of our laws). Encourage sanctuary cities (encourage more to enter the US with a promise of no deportation, even when other laws are broken). Provide free healthcare to all illegal immigrants, as well as voting rights and representation in our government (i.e. make illegal immigrants unaccountable and give them a voice in our government even without citizenship).
I didn't vote for Trump and really thought the Dems might win in 2020, but with their current outrageous stance on immigration (not to mention free college, debt forgiveness, government jobs guaranteed), I hope Trump wins. He is one outrageous man, but the Dems are many and they care not for our laws, but instead prefer Communism. Yes, communism, not socialism. PS Socialism is not Medicare, Medicaid, or SNAP - socialism is when the government takes over means of production and that's where the 'new' dem party is headed.
10
@Ma
Socialism is when the working class controls both the means of production and the government.
@Ma
Your equating of New Deal politics with communism is nothing short of ridiculous.
And your declaration to support Trump is short-sighted and self-destructive.
1
@Ma One big problem is Trump slashed aid to countries like El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Since then there has been a sharp rise in violence and
a massive drought.
Under Obama, most asylum seekers were released to stay with friends or family and 99% showed up to their court appearances. Those deemed unfit to stay were deported. Obama's program also saved a lot of money.
Trump killed Obama's program and now locks everyone up at a cost of $750 per day per person. He also more or less eliminated the ability for people to seek asylum at ports of entry.
2
I’m reading the daily articles on this topic and have yet to see a proposed solution. Border agents are being demonized as if there are plenty of clean comfortable empty cells with steak and lobster, but they’re placing people into the squalid ones because they’re mean.
Where’s AOC’s plan to build new facilities? Or does she want to just release everyone into the population? Or is she too busy reading Facebook posts to figure it out?
17
@Max. Try and put your feelings for AOC aside and look at those pictures. I’m not saying we should put people up in hotels, but this is sickening. I think she is a whistleblower and if that gets people riled into action, then she has helped. No child should be alone without a parent. No human whose worst ‘crime’ has been seeking refugee, should be treated like this.
17
@Lola
Rile what people into action? She's the one in congress isn't she? My only feeling about her is frustration that she's all talk.
8
@Max
What makes you believe we need to build new facilities in the first place?
Children do NOT belong in prisons. Everyone with an ounce of morality knows this.
What is needed is a program that makes sure that when you release families, they systematically show up in court and are then deported when a judge rejects their asylum demands.
The good news is that that program has already been invented. It's called the Family Case Management program. It had been in place since 2015, and brought the number of people who showed up in court from 63% to 99% (AND it was cheaper than incarcerating them, costing taxpayers less).
WHO installed that program?
Obama.
WHO ended it, putting now once again families in prison AND on American streets without ANY guarantee that they'll show up in court?
Trump.
What's happening today is sheer incompetence combined with the clear lack of a moral compass.
By the way, WHO was so passionate about border security that he got a bill through the Senate that would have TRIPLED the number of border patrol agents?
Obama, in 2013.
Who refused to even allow a vote on it, and since then did nothing at all?
The GOP House, both under Obama and then under Trump - who didn't even seriously try to get something passed.
Conclusion: sometimes reading a couple of articles on a topic isn't enough to know the truth. You also have to study the context, and recent history.
14
Whether you like it or not, these detainees are trespassers, not invited guests. To those screaming for better conditions for detainees: why aren't you protesting as loudly about the conditions that leave so many legal residents (citizens and non-citizens) poor, homeless, hungry, unemployed, unable to afford medical care? It's glamorous right now to oppose conditions in the detention centers. Soon people will forget about these, chasing the new flavor of the month. Some of the politicians and protestors are perpetrating the values that gave rise to this migration from Central America: our militaristic culture, our excessive personal and national consumption of natural resources, as well as manufactured goods, our hunger for power, status and wealth. How much do the protesting politicians and private citizens really share in the lives of the poor, whether they are Guatemalans or US citizens? The phoniness speaks louder than the signs do.
106
We aren’t protesting. We are acting. And people like you instruct us at every turn.
62
@farhorizons USA should very well be able to do both. The politicians who are trying to expose this, are trying to do that.
And you can call them what you want, trespassers etc. That does not change the fact that they are asylum seekers under the US Law. They are to be processed according to the law, and treated according to the law.
Laws are not optional. Not even for this despicable administration.
86
@farhorizons why aren't you protesting as loudly about the conditions that leave so many legal residents (citizens and non-citizens) poor, homeless, hungry, unemployed, unable to afford medical care?
1) Most progressives are.
2) These are the result of inaction. The board abuses are ACTIVE, DELIBERATE abuse.
86
What’s become real apparent since the 2016 election is the profound numbers of Americans who have, for whatever their own experiences, no empathy. Maybe it’s always been that way, or maybe social media has amplified the voices (GOP electeds as well - who are bent on brazenly causing suffering for all walks of life who rely on just and fair leadership)- of the previously *unheard*. Empathy is something you’re either born with - or not—. Sounds like you’re in the former category. So’m I.
It’s a waste of time trying to *figure out* how and why the people you mention can be so cold hearted. It’s like staring into the abyss. It’s unnerving and depressing.
I’m reading Viktor Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning” for the 3rd time since the 2016 election. Why I read this book so frequently: As a death camp survivor, he focuses in on what we’re powerless over, and the ways that we can conduct our own selves with kindness to others in a world (and country) where hatred and chaos seem to be engulfing all— It’s quiet, radical stuff. And recommended reading for anyone who wants to hold onto their soul.
Just also remember, you’re not alone in feeling “foreign”. Lots of of us *foreigners* are here right alongside you. Even if you can’t see us.
172
@W Just before I read your comment this morning I sent an email to a friend suggesting Frankl’s book for these trying times. It’s always beside my bed. I often pick it up and read a passage when I feel like I’m losing hope. So glad to know I’m not the only one.
11
@W... It's not a matter of whether a person has empathy or not. I think how people respond to stories like this is based on where they perceive the "original sin".
For liberals, the original sin begins at the detention centers and is committed by the U.S. government. If these people are not treated as guests of our country then it is shameful. It really doesn't matter why they are here, just that they are here and we need to treat them like guests in our homes by feeding, clothing and educating them. This view ignores the decisions that led these migrants to be held in a detention center in the first place and fully absolves those folks of responsibility. It also makes the liberals feel good about themselves and feel morally superior to anyone with opposing views. This fits the liberal mindset that individual choices don't matter; there are only victims in this world.
For conservatives, the original sin is committed when these people decide to - in many cases - fraudulently claim asylum and abuse our legal system. In this view. the migrants are only in these detention centers because THEY made a decision to violate the intent/spirit of our laws. As a result, they do not deserve to be treated as guests. And if they were selfish enough to involve their (or other people's) children in the original sin, then that's their responsibility and something they should feel bad about, not us. This fits the conservative world view that individual responsibility matters most of all.
10
@W
THANK YOU for your entry and for your your book recommendation. I just ordered it. It's interesting how people can tell themselves that they HAVE empathy, just not in this case because [fill in the blanks] -- judging by a comment. It's like deciding whether or not to rescue a drowning person depending on [fill in the blanks]. In my eyes, that's NOT empathy.
8
This is the tipping point. We need mass demonstrations on the 4th of July against the trump/me-ism display.
6
It is absolutely sickening to see these images and know that we're not looking at something across an ocean, but in our own backyard. These are human beings, looking to make a better life for themselves following the American dream myth that we have actively propagated around the world. The depravity of this administration seems to have no limits. Imagine what is going on that we don't know about - our Congress members are called liars (putting it politely) when they visit these camps and report on the conditions, and one day later the OIG's official report supports their assertions and more.
And all this just a day before our ridiculously insecure president hijacks our national July 4th holiday and turns it into a celebration of militarism and his own vanity. For someone who uses the word "disgrace", the true disgrace is this know-nothing president's complete disregard for humanity and his insatiable need to be worshiped. Any president with a shred of decency would be mortified by what is going on under this administration and should be booed off any stage that he stands on. This July 4th is more aptly a mourning celebration for the loss of any iota of our nation's ideals. Celebrating "freedom and liberty" is a complete joke contrasted with the misery and degradation we are dishing out at the border.
8
And yet we have millions of dollars to spend on Trump's 4th of July ego lubrication celebration, where he will show off our military's might.
Simply appalling.
9
Our first duty as citizens is to elect this guy out of office. Pure and simple. And that means no progressive purity tests, no staying at home and pouting that your perfect candidate didn’t make and, for heavens sake, NO THIRD PARTY!
10
@farhorizons
These people are 75% refugees seeking legal asylum. Again, I am questioning the New York Times’ Comment Section. You need to up your game. This free for all is appalling and just wrong.
4
Less than 10% of those seeking asylum have legitimate cases. Our asylum laws cannot be used for regular immigration.
1
$700 to $800 per person per day is what we’re paying for this.
Do the math:
2 detainees in a nice hotel room with 2 queen beds a full bathroom, a/c, work out facility and pool
$150 per night x 30 nights = $4,500 per month
Compare that with:
2 detainees in a cage with no bed, bathroom and standing room only
1,400 x 30 nights = $42,000 per month
I’m certain the $37,500 a month difference would cover food, security, and medical care.
Follow the Money!
15
@JTH - excellent point. Improving conditions would cut into profits. Therefore it won't happen without major government arm-twisting (which may or may not happen, considering the current state of the government).
3
No we are NOT paying $700/day when they are at the border station.
That money is for AFTER the initial processing when they're sent to a holding facility.
1
Tomorrow Americans across this land and wherever else they find themselves to be will celebrate our Independence. Some might participate in 45's militarized extravaganza, "Salute to America". Others will have simpler celebrations, small town parades, backyard BBQ, and fireworks at night. This report from the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security rings a different alarm bell. It is not the bell of freedom, but an alarm bell, a call to action that we can do better. It is a bell whose dissonant tone dampens the enthusiastic sound of a Sousa march. The challenge for us this holiday season is not so much to salute our military might, but to honor the strength of our moral integrity. The policies practiced by the Customs and Border Protection Agency in these detention centers betray our core national creed as set forth in the Declaration of Independence. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that persons are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights- that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." These rights belong to the migrants too! We can do better! And our representatives in government can do better if they have the moral fortitude to treat the alien among us as one of us with love. (cf. Lev. 19.33)
143
@craig80st
Well said. I am heartsick, angry, discouraged, but the words of our founding Fathers gives me hope. Thank you.
5
@craig80st The polices practiced are law and the problem is that Congress has not given enough funds to support these facilities nor have they addressed illegal immigration in any meaningful manner in decades.
Immigrants and asylum seekers have certain rights but they also have certain responsibilities, and those include entering the US under LEGAL circumstances. They do NOT have the right to open borders and unfettered entry.
2
@Jaymes (who likes poetry)
Rhetoric. More rhetoric and now crypto-fascism.
Ellis Island was no picnic and we did not accommodate millions fleeing from Nazis when we could have.
Poor Turkey under a dictator managed to accommodate millions of Syrians. Yes millions! In comparatively great conditions.
When there is a will there is a way. We never really had a will with respect to desperate souls whom we could not turn a profit from. Did we?
7
In their vehemence, the anti-immigrant comments on this article reveal too much of the US for what it is: a bottomless pit of ignorance and hatred.
9
It’s not anti-immigrant to be for legal immigration and against illegal immigration. We are not only a nation of legal immigrants but a nation of laws.
Trump makes it very difficult to be proud of our country anymore.
What a way to celebrate our Independence Day; by sending militarized police to invade people's homes and kick them out of the country, while others sit huddled in disgusting concentration camps dotted across the border.
Is this really how we Make America 'Great' Again?
8
Trump caused this problem, only because he knew it would get enormous coverage, and because he could then, as always, blame it on the democrats, and then do a little to alleviate it, but then just leave things they way they are now.
6
This makes no sense. He was the one saying this was a humanitarian crisis when the Democrats were calling it “manufactured”.
It is a serious crisis that needs to be addressed. We need control of our boarders and need to change our asylum laws that are being exploited. Only Congress can do this.
@Matt
Trump did nothing to alleviate the humanitarian crisis.
He just railed against the immigrants, insulting them and turning a blind eye to their abuse by the CBP.
"Control of our boarders [sic]"? A Freudian slip, referring to the migrants as boarders.
1
This is a permanent stain on our country that will never be forgotten, courtesy of the person who said we would be tired of winning. We are all losers in this story.
11
Why do all the leaders have Acting in their titles? Maybe that’s a small part of this deplorable approach?
5
In other news, 44 migrants were killed in a squalid detention center funded by European countries. They are being detained to prevent them from crossing the Mediterranean from Libya.
2
So...the caravans and surge of immigrants that the NYT and the Dems previously asserted "did not exist" and for which the Pelosi controlled House refused to provide additional funding...really did exist all along...and now that the Obama built detention facilities are overwhelmed, it's somehow Trump's fault?
Good to see that politics instead of news remains the priority.
5
@Fred Rick
Conditions in border holding facilities have always been deplorable.
But Obama did not warehouse people for long periods of time and subject them to the cruelty and abuse of Trump's Border Patrol.
And no migrants died in BP custody under Obama.
2
Trump has been quoted saying that he could get rich running for President. That must be small change compared to what he is raking in off Mar-a-Lago, Trump Washington DC, and kick backs to his Campaign from the $700 per day per person that we, the taxpayers, are paying his prison industry cronies to provide sqalid conditions in the southern states'
internment camps.
Why aren't these places being shut down for hygiene violations at least? The southern states can't stop raising their hands in support of these abusive industries. The new south looks a lot like the old south.
8
These conditions are truly disgusting for a country about ready to celebrate its principled stand on independence from England--you remember no taxation without representation--what a joke the GOP has made of that! IMHO the money from TRump's military parade would be better spent on improving the conditions of asylum seekers (legally here--read international law).
7
Of all President Trump’s Evangelical supporters I ask - what would Jesus think of this?
8
Are we great yet, Trump supporters?
11
No because we don’t have control of our borders. People need to appreciate our laws and apply to become a citizen just like everyone before them.
Meanwhile, all Mitch McConnell has to say is that if Nike is pulling a shoe with an American flag on it, America's got a problem. Tan suits, bicycle helmets, Dijon mustard, Michelle Obama's sleeveless dress - oh, the things the right loses their heads over but babies held in cages without diapers and people drinking out of toilets elicits no comment.
17
As long as the AOC's, Tom Perez's and favored political class, living in luxury by fiat of the cartels, tyrants and elites, lie to keep the the mistreated masses coming we will have chaos.
Don't look at the real culprits, just keep listening to and voting for the do nothing puppets and marionettes in our congress.
4
Thanks. Most of us prefer looking at reality and addressing real problems, and a little flight of pure fantasy is refreshing.
6
The real culprit IS the US government. Everyone needs to brush up on US involvement in Central and South America. It never gets much mention in the history books, so I can understand how young people missed out and are now totally clueless as adults. However, it's
not too late to catch up.
8
@BBB The real problem is overpopulation.
We are Nazis minus the ovens. We must be dealt with. The civilized world must unite. The European Union should publicly condemn us and refer to matter to the UN.
77
@Tullymd
And all good Americans should be out in the streets protesting.
22
Well we could but the US doesn't recognize the International Criminal Court because of all the war crimes it commits all over the world.
16
I guess "concentration camp" is the right term...
49
The comments posted here are a great cause of angst and not just for the migrants. I seriously doubt any of you have ever visited any of the crossing or the detention centers, but I have. While I feel for the migrants, I also feel for the folks that protect our borders. We here from our representatives such as Cortez who make all kinds of wild accusations such the migrants drinking out of toilets, which are completely untrue. In Cortez' case, she's doing nothing more than pandering to the democratic base. I don't mind her big mouth as long as she speaks the truth, and she doesn't. With such a large influx of people trying to cross the border, none of which speak English, you can be certain there is a lot of misunderstandings and misinformation. The border patrol does an outstanding job corralling these migrants as they attempt to cross into the USA illegally. Have any of you seen how dangerous crowd control is? The US, at our southern border, sees more than 100,000 migrants a month. That is roughly 1100 people per agent. You figure it out. Some of you bleeding hearts believe that we should let these millions of people into the US, but when your neighborhoods begin to deteriorate you are the first to complain because of the high taxes.
10
Her name is OCASIO-CORTEZ.
7
Pretty sure that AOC doesn’t represent any part of Jersey.
5
@DEWaldron
The suggestion by a Border Patrol agent that people should drink out of the toilet was well documented.
The barbaric living conditions and sadistic treatment by guards are also well documented.
Photos published here and elsewhere confirm those conditions.
The "danger from crowd control" has not harmed anyone on the BP, but six migrant children have died on their watch.
That doesn't seem to me to have been an "outstanding job."
1
As someone who's been studying this issue for several years, thank you for drawing attention to this. I feel many don't know that these detention centers are for profit and that these facilities often have bed quotas. More people, more money. The current administration has also been working to block bail for those detained , as well as the sponsorship system . As CBS showed most recently this last weekend, there have been asylum seekers taken out of the homes of their sponsors and placed into these facilities. Above all, we should remember that seeking asylum is not a crime.
563
@Latin American Studies MA
Private prisons are for profit too.
16
@Latin American Studies MA Going with your idea, we can eliminate these BAD for profit companies by not letting anyone in the country? Right? They'll not be a need for them...
11
@Joe
Yes, in a fantasy world where places like Honduras and El Salvador aren't among the most danger countries on Earth, where thinking, empathetic Americans have completely surrendered to the selfishness and cowardice that pervades this administration and the people who support it.
24
Why hasn't Facebook shut down the secret Border Patrol Facebook Group? Why have they allowed such hate on their platform?
23
Close the borders and get help for the refugees now.
How far have we fallen--this land of the free.
242
@linda Feldman we can't close our borders because it will do too much damage to our economy. We need to deal with the problem at its source and that includes not implementing policies or propping up leaders that exponentially increase poverty and financial suffering in South America.
56
@ linda feldman
We do not have open borders. Obama set a precedent of more deportations than any other President - a Democrat. This is staged by Republicans who have all the money in the world to take care of women and children (the majority of people seeking asylum, under international law) but refuse to do so for a Fox News misinformation tag line.
Despicable does not even come close. This is now a violation of international law and puts us in the same category as Venezuela.
149
@linda feldman
Enough. We learned from the Katrina disaster that when an emergency of this scale happens, there is a protocol for response. Like a video clip out of the Red Cross. Tent camps. Stadiums and arenas to temp house these people with emergency services. Every state must pitch in. Every church. Every city with a conscious. Yes, there’s a crisis at the border. Address it. The time is here to make America great again.
30
This is unbearable and there is absolutely no excuse for this cruelty. It needs to stop now. Stray dogs get better treatment at an animal shelter than these babies are getting.
142
@bean Crybaby. It's no worse than what Americans have to go through every time they go to a rock concert or a baseball game at a stadium.
1
Tomorrow, your president will stand before your nation, tanks rumbling, planes flying, flags waving. He will boast about your booming economy, power and influence. It will be partisan because he cannot be anything else, his ego will not allow it.
While the flags wave and the money for this spectacle is being burned there will be those huddled together in cages wondering if they will ever know freedom without fear.
186
@Holly
Not My President.
The US has much to learn from Canada. But probably never will.
6
@Holly
The US has much to learn from Canada. But probably never will.
2
@Holly He's not my president!
6
The only difference between the Nazi Concentration Camps and the American Concentration Camps is that we aren't killing the prisoners, although to date, seven have died.
American foreign policy in Central America has routinely propped up brutal dictators in each of these countries simply because they were anti-Communist. These mistakes occurred prior to Trump and he has continue the same failed policies.
The permanent stain on American liberty and freedom is Trump's to wear like a badge of dishonor. His narcissism has inflicted pain and suffering on tens of thousands of people where none was necessary.
20
@Ken Solin
Worse yet: 7 is just the known child deaths. Many more adults have died and we're giving the benefit of the doubt that DHS is reporting all the child deaths
3
Just think; that 4th of July farce Trump is planning is estimated to cost over $1 million - or we could take care of over 1000 migrants for a day (using the $750/day rate which is laughable).
Incidentally, does that $750/day rate include the cost of overtime and Internet so these cretins can post to their private Facebook group?
3
Why shouldn't we celebrate our armed forces on the 4th of July? They need to be recognized.
The military would be drawing a paycheck wherever they are anyway so these "cost" numbers don't relate.
Years of US backed coups and economic interference in Latin America caused this crisis. We have long forced them into trade agreements that strengthen our economy and weaken theirs.
Yet Trump and his supporters continue to behave as if the drugs and gangs aren’t a result of America’s policies.
1063
@a Reader
True. And I find that one of those stunning facts about who these people are.
How does anyone - ANYONE - at this level of the game be so historically ignorant?
44
@a Reader
Maybe. Some of those were a long time ago. Guatemala almost doubling its population in the last 25 years is an issue in a subsistence farming economy where land can’t be split further.
26
@a Reader -- The US Congress needs to sit down together and not go home until they have solved the issues at the border with updated IMMIGRATION LAWS.
Obama by all accounts did raids and filled detention centers. We can not keep addressing the symptoms of failed US policy that helped to create these failed nations in South America, and the fact that our US companies lure low-wage workers up from Mexico to work in fields, without benefits and often under abusive conditions. It's obvious, these workers should have migrant worker "guest passes" that allow them to cross the border to work and go back to Mexico when the work is finished/ or at the end of the week or month. We would not have whole families immigrating to the USA from Mexico if we put better immigration laws and policies into effect. This punishment as a deterrent -- especially punishment of little children -- makes the USA look anything but "great" and it's not just Trump. It was Obama before him, with less public awareness.
18
Let’s offer every last one of them the option to be sent back to their home country immediately. If that fails, they obviously can’t be released into the general population, and the government hasn’t been given the resources by congress to build suitable housing. Cramming them in is the best worst option.
15
Republicans and all those “pro lifers” as well as evangelicals who think God anointed Trump have no problem at all with caging toddlers on concrete floors.
3
Sadly it looks like this July 4th we’ll be celebrating a non-traditional form of “independence”; independence from the human compassion and basic sense of human dignity that founded the concepts of freedom upon which the United States of America was founded. The flag should be flown upside-down this year.
6
This is the result of a policy without economic support: machinations exploiting innocent people as leverage. Shame on the Democrats! In today's wave of terrorism both domestic and foreign borders must be secure and all entering must be documented!
2
Push these detainees to the limit, they will eventually revolt in order to save themselves, in order to claim their dignity...and the Trump administration will win, claiming "see they really are bad people."
Once again the administration creates chaos, breaks a system, forces human beings to their limits...and then says "see I told you so."
I can promise you that without our humanity there is nothing we possess - no technological or scientific advancement, no wealth or power - nothing...that will have any value to us, to our families, to our society without it.
We must stop caring "about" our fellow human beings...and start caring "for" them.
Rome is burning and Nero is fiddling.
1
Trump's Base pops up intermitently in this comments section and they obviously take great pleasure in torturing these desperate people alongside their leader.
All across the nation festivities celebrating the 4th of July today should be canceled, not promoted, in protest. Are we now a military dictatorship that tortures our weakened neighbors from the South? We can not possibly feel proud of what our country has become.The majority of us are feeling ashamed.
2
Wow. There are people on social media today, who are resorting to the "lesser tyranny" argument, saying these camps are not concentration camps, because well... there are no execution squads, and emaciated people in striped uniforms. Is this the level of thinking and empathy that we have reached? The USA should strive to uphold the highest level of human rights possible, even for non-citizens. There can be no justification for any other perspective on this issue.
1
Someone is pocketing the $775.
3
@Scottilla
This is true, and unfortunately the more one learns about these human rights violations on the border, the more these horrific conditions appear as a deliberate strategy, mainly motivated by racism and greed. That may sound naive, given that much of history has been motivated by racism and greed - but greedy autocrats have rarely targeted young children and families, at least in this nation recently, to make their tainted profits.
2
A good analogy for what Trump is doing is like a ship that is sinking because it has a hole at the bottom. As the water gets higher Trump comes along and in order to get more people on board to follow him he actually starts punching the hole to expand it and make the leak worse. He then proceeds to yell at anyone available and who will listen to help him "solve the problem" by getting buckets to dump extra water over the side so the ship won't sink. The real solution is to try and plug the hole at its source but Trump wants to be in charge too much so he focuses on a quick solution instead of a lasting one. The problem with this, however, is eventually there won't be enough people to help dump water over the side and it will be too late to plug the leak at its source because it will have grown too big.
2
Instead of giving a speech tomorrow, Trump should be in Texas serving meals or changing diapers.
3
And Pelosi fiddles...Cummings writes another letter.....
1
This is exactly what "Christians" like Falwell and Graham believe that this is exactly how their "god" wants them to treat children, if they are brown.
1
The ICE/Border Patrol which has existed in the past was very even in its handling of offenders. Now they are dealing with an impossible situation handed to them by politicians, social upheaval, and global warming drought. We need to be very careful not to demonize them. They are simply trying to do a job for which they were not prepared with limited resources and seemingly little guidance. Again, under the circumstances doing the best they can. This situation is caused by politicians/electorate and politics, neither of which really have had a plan. Just leave ICE out of the blame.
7
Note that the number of migrants was much, much higher in the past--and we had even fewer border patrol workers. But we did not have a "crisis at the border" because we allowed people to wait with relatives and friends until their hearings.
The process of monitoring migration and blocking illegal entry is always going to be systemic. It's like checking luggage before a flight where authorities hope to stop most contraband, but there is the understanding that keeping flights going is so important that you don't slow down the process to the point where every flyer must unpack and repack luggage in front of an authority.
The way that President Trump is trying to handle migration is like someone insisting that all travelers unpack and repack bags before boarding their planes. The nightmare and expense that result are not worth any possible gain!
3
Do we truly believe in the "rule of law" or is that also something that has been lost during the Trump administration? Isn't child abuse against the law? If child abuse is against the law and Trump take an oath to faithfully execute the laws of this country, why isn't he being charged for criminal negligence.?
Don't we also have laws against the indefinite detention of subject without charge. Trump ought to be held responsible for not enforcing those laws as well. If these are not impeachable offenses, I don't know what is.
2
So, what are we supposed to do? We have ample facilities for the "normal" number of invaders -- but, in May, triple that number showed up.
What? Turn them loose, let unaccompanied children -- there were hundreds -- try to survive on the streets? Families released on a "promise" to show up for a hearing a couple of years off? That'll work; instead of 140,000 per month, word will get back, and number will triple again.
Let's be very clear, dispassionately clear: The conditions were created by the migrants themselves. They are counting on the emotional response such as illustrated in these comments to get them free admission. Unacceptable; the flood will become a tsunami.
Other places to stay? Well, if you are so keen: Offer your home, turn your living room into their bedroom -- and, of course, take legal responsibility for their showing up at their hearing.
I don't expect too many critics posting here to offer real solutions -- other than open borders, and that would be national suicide.
In summary: The conditions are ugly. But they were created by those incarcerated. If word gets back that those conditions will only get worse: That may help stem the tide. Anything else is de facto "open borders."
7
@Austin Liberal
Every nation on the planet has some percentage of its population that is not there legally.
Migration is a simple fact of humanity that has been true for thousands of years--people move in search of work and safety--and they don't always have the money or the luxury of time to do so legally.
If our President had not made illegal immigration define his presidency, the ordinary process of checking, detaining, and either removing or granting asylum to migrants would not be in the news. Not at all. It would just be a process, like the inspections that occur at our airport, where every day many forbidden items get pulled from suitcases and some make it through.
Calling for "sealing the border" is like calling for "ending all burglary". It's not possible unless you want to spend far more money on trying to stop the problem than what the problem costs.
Is the average American citizen struggling to walk down the street because of the swarms of illegal migrants? Is the average American citizen having his or her day turned upside down because an illegal migrant cooked at a restaurant, babysat a child, or made a hotel bed?
We are making a mountain out of a mole hill! Yes, we have laws, but having people working illegally (which actually saves us money which is why people like Trump used to fly in illegal migrants from Costa Rica to work on his golf courses!) simply does not threaten American daily life to an extent that warrants draconian crackdowns!
2
This is chaos. It’s insanity. And it can no longer be tolerated.
Every person should immediately call or write their representative. Don’t let them rest until they agree to the only workable solution…
A complete shutdown of the southern border by any means necessary.
3
THIS is the consequence of Trump's rhetoric: that somewhere someone feels protected to engage in such cruelty.
5
The Department of Homeland Security Inspector General’s report describes overcrowded conditions in Customs and Border Protection processing stations that are not designed to hold detainees overnight. In normal conditions, migrants spend about 12 hours at the stations before being transferred to DHS facilities. The stations operate today exactly as they operated under previous administrations, but in May and June they were swamped by a tsunami of illegal border crossers.
But the overcrowding has been rapidly reduced. According to a Department of Homeland Security statement incorporated in the IG report, “CBP facilities are at peak capacity, primarily due to record numbers of Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) awaiting placements with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). As of June 7, 2019, nearly 2,800 UACs were waiting in Border Patrol stations that were not built nor equipped to house them. By June 25, 2019, however, that number had reduced to under1,000.”
Conditions have since returned to near normal. At the height of the surge, some processing stations had to dump adults and parents with children at bus stations in nearby towns while transferring unaccompanied children to tent cities. But now these children have been transferred backto the processing stations. The processing stations send children to Health and Human Resource childcare centers that have bedrooms, showers, cafeterias, classrooms, recreation rooms, and playgrounds.
2
@William Case
Thanks for the fact-based perspective!
1
Yeah, I just wish that he’d used facts from this dimension.
2
@Robert
If you could challenge the facts in my post, your would, but you can't.
CBP operational manual say migrants should be processed though the processing statin in 12 hours or less.
There are more than 600 processing stations. (New York has six.) They are all operated the same. They are all operated today just as the were under previous administration. The difference is in the number of illegal border crossings.
2
The problem is in many respects complex but in one respect very simple. Trump measures himself not against the values that this nation has stood for historically, but rather how he stacks up against who he thinks are the most powerful 'leaders' in the world. In his vision he measures himself against the 'toughest and most efficient leaders' and these are men like Putin, Duterte, Kim Jong-un, Bolsonaro etc. Trump wants to prove he belongs right up there with them. The Detention Centers fit neatly into his vision of himself and have the added benefit of feeding his hate filled white nationalist followers. To Trump this is a win, win situation.
2
Donald Trump has learned a valuable lesson in his first two and a half years in office. And that lesson is, "nothing you do can send you to jail". And as long as a jail term if off the table, then there is really nothing to stop or constrain him. Period.
The Mueller Report, by 'exonerating him' in his eyes, has done nothing but spur him on to commit greater crimes. Thus, the "wink, wink" encouragement last week of Vladimir Putin to interfere, once again, in our elections on his behalf.
Trump is an ego-maniac with borderline personality disorder. Now, what happens when you give someone like that a massive amount of power and tell him that there are no restraints or repercussions of any kind for how he uses it?
Well, we're all looking at it.
And the worst part is yet to come. Because Trump knows that if he ever leaves office, his immunity goes with it. With that in mind, the next year and a half will be spent entirely with one goal in mind - to remain in office no matter what. To remain in office as if his very freedom depended on it, because it does.
So, what's the most likely strategy? Demonize any and all rivals. Make sure the election is rigged. And start a war - just to be on the safe side.
Worse case scenario? He loses the vote by a landslide. Even this won't make any difference. He will claim that it was rigged against him. Declare the vote non-binding. Call for new elections (in a year or two). And threaten lethal violence against anyone that tries to remove him.
3
This is what comes of prioritizing politics over logistics—and hubris over humanity.
A similar mess happened with the abrupt imposition of a travel ban while travelers from the banned nations were in mid-flight.
If Ivanka Trump would like to earn her American taxpayer paid perks, maybe she should sit down with her father and talk about why someone needs to craft a plan before tweeting a new policy.
Imagine if a politician decided to be so tough on crime that any infraction of any law would result in immediate incarceration. After all, why “catch and release” criminals who might not pay their traffic tickets and other fines? Forget to put your new registration sticker on your car, well, off to prison with you!
Can you picture the horrible mess if anyone who broke any law had a prison sentence? Whether the new sentences were only for a week or multiple years, the prisons would come to a standstill with overcrowding and prison logistics would collapse. You can’t implement a new policy without taking time to prepare for it.
Trump’s “No Tolerance” law (that cages asylum seekers rather than allowing them to wait with relatives, friends or established assistance centers until their hearings) is unplanned, unnecessary, incompetent, and cruel.
1
This administration is guilty of crimes against humanity. Against our Constitution. They claim to be strict constructionists, but they throw out whole swaths of the Constitution that they find contradictory to their vision of America. This shameful abuse of power and people will not stand the test of time well at all. And Trump will likely be the worst president for as long as we have a democracy to resurrect.
1
I think this is all going to backfire on the Democrats. Not only do I think Trump is going to win re-election next year, but the Republicans might take back the House. The complete lack of respect for our immigration laws has caused this crisis and the American people aren’t fooled into believing that Trump is at fault for the suffering of these people.
29
@Mark
ALL proven facts show the exact opposite.
WHO created the "Family Case Management Program", for instance?
You don't know, of course, because you're not really interested in immigration laws and their enforcement, so you never fact-check anything and blindly believe government tweets.
What does it do? Before that program, 63% of those caught and released at the border, showed up in court. The rest simply stayed in the US, illegally. After the program, 99% showed up. So thanks to this program, it was no longer necessary to imprison families in order to make sure that their case can be brought to court and that if necessary they could be deported, as they showed up anyhow - which also cost taxpayers much less.
WHO created this program?
Obama.
Who abandoned it, and then started to massively incarcerate again, until prisons became overloaded,so that now he has to release tens of thousands of them once again on US streets?
Trump.
Conclusion: immigration laws were MUCH better enforced and respected under Obama than under Trump.
Second question: WHO was passionate enough about immigration law enforcement and reform to get a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill through the Senate with a super-majority, bill that would have TRIPLED the number of border patrol agents and installed e-verify?
Obama.
Who even refused to allow a vote on it in the House (knowing it would pass)? The GOP.
Who never got ANY bill through Congress?
Trump.
Now think for yourself...
29
@Mark No, this crisis was entirely caused by Trump. He broke the law by preventing people from seeking asylum the legal/safe way at border crossings, then he stoked fears that the border would be closed, causing a massive influx of people trying to cross the border before that happened, then he mismanaged and underfunded the agency.
Yet, somehow this is the fault of the Democrats?
16
@Mark Your argument is based upon, what evidence exactly? Trump has consistently been in the general range of 42% approve, 52% disapprove throughout his entire presidency. See Fivethirtyeight.com if you actually want to get into the verification of this actual fact. Historically, the team winning the presidency gets a downticket bump in congressional elections and incumbents have a big advantage against challengers, so even (god forbid) he does once again gain reelection with a minority of votes, chances of him flipping the house are slight. But, hey, there are always hunches and magical thinking...
4
It’s really amazing what people can do to others when they first dehumanize them.
4
What gets me the most is how Christian leaders are ignoring the cruelty at our border. But oh how Christian leaders shout their love for the fetus.
6
Yes, white conservative evangelical leaders.
But NOT mainstream Christian leaders. The mainstream church has many, many organizations right there at the border, fighting the good fight for justice.
The failure of the press, and the literate public, to understand the difference between conservative evangelicalism--a very recent offshoot of church doctrine, and quite clearly an aberration--and the mainstream church, whether Protestant, Roman Catholic, or Eastern Orthodox, is an impediment to progress in resolving the crisis.
Mainstream Christianity is pro-immigrant and always has been. It is sad that the press and high culture generally are ignorant of this fact.
1
This treatment is morally unconscionable. Even if you think the US should not allow one more person to ever immigrate here, it does not justify this abject cruelty. We are witnessing immoral sadism as the policy of the US government. Trump, his government, the Republicans who stand by silently and every one of his voters and gloating supporters cannot erase this stain of immoral sadism as their legacy.
8
@Jonathan
So you would support a complete shutdown of the southern border in the meantime?
2
Organizations accepting donations:
RAICES offers free/low-cost legal services to immigrant children/families.
KIND (Kids In Need of Defense) provides legal representation to migrant children/lobbies to ensure their rights are protected.
Pueblo Sin Fronteras provides humanitarian aid/shelter to migrants on their way to the US.
Al Otro Lado provides legal services to deportees/migrants in Tijuana, including deportee parents whose children remain in the US.
The Florence Project offers free legal services to people in immigration custody.
Justice in Motion connects attorneys and nongovernmental organizations across the US/Mexico/Central America to find parents who have been deported without their children/help them reunite.
Texas Civil Rights Project uses legal advocacy/ litigation to help separated families.
Border Angels supports San Diego County's immigrant population/focuses on issues related to the US-Mexico border.
Neta helps asylum seekers on both sides of the US-Mexico border.
South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project (ProBAR) supports over 1,000 unaccompanied children in detention centers across South Texas.
Fronterizo Fianza Fund assists families in coming up with the bond money needed for a detained immigrant to be released.
National Immigrant Justice Center fights for policy reform/ provides legal services to immigrants/refugees/asylum-seekers.
Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center provides legal representation to migrants who can't afford it.
7
@Babzilicious
Thanks for posting this. I'll be checking them out later.
ACLU is also offering legal counsel.
This is sickening!
2
And yet, if all you watch is Fox News you're getting a completely different set of "facts". Right now Fox News has multiple stories about how conditions aren't that bad. According to Fox News the only problem is AOC lying.
Why is it left up to Media Matters to report how Fox News is misinforming the public? This has huge implications for the country, but NYT is mostly silently. You'll mention that Fox News is biased maybe once a month without bothering to mention specifics beyond a few things their evening hosts stated.
What Fox News is telling the country is big news.
10
Why haven’t we heard from the U. N. Commission on Human Rights on this outrage?
7
The United States is not responsible for the illegal aliens or bogus asylum seekers attempting to reach our shores.
The reason every country from Mexico to Argentina is a complete disfunctional mess is because of the corrupt governmental and societal institutions put into place by Spain and Portugal, HUNDREDS of years ago, BEFORE the United States existed.
Happy Independence Day!
5
@Fred Conservatives have wallets where their hearts should be. Cold; clammy and closed.
2
@Fred
The real cause in those countries is overpopulation. Coincidentally, those countries are almost totally Catholic. Causality; not coincidence.
Finally the Dems are waking up to the fact that this is a humanitarian crisis! It wasn’t long ago when CNN, MSNBC and just about every Democratic leader kept claiming this was a “manufactured crisis”.
We need to get control of our borders. We are a nation of immigrants but those immigrants came here legally. What would be the point of our laws if we legalize illegal migration?
We cannot allow people to risk their lives and the lives of children taking this dangerous trek. Our system cannot handle this many people and these facilities are overcrowded.
10
It absolutely can handle them. It handled them for years when there was a competent administration in charge. This mess is Trump's responsibility and Trump's fault. It's a crisis all right, but not an immigration crisis; it's a crisis of conscience and leadership.
4
@Matt
But it is a manufactured crisis even though it is a humanitarian crisis. It is both
trump and his administration are ALLOWING this to happen on their watch. He and the republican party own every disgusting, disgraceful square inch of this crisis.
2
@Matt, Everyone, but Trump's delusional red meat base knows this humanitarian crisis was created and escalated by the pathological liar, malignant narcissist, Donald J.Trump. He is sick. And Everyone = THE WORLD. Over and over, with his front and center racism, disdain and ignorance on full display this man was unrelenting in his lies and obsessive idea of his magical 'WALL' to stop migrants from coming into America and fix Our immigration system. Trump's "crisis" included the 35 day Government shutdown, in which the nation was held hostage to his fears and vindictiveness......It was a year ago when the world discovered how Trump and his people hid the kidnapping of children from their families WITHOUT a plan to reunite them. Deliberately with MALICE as a deterrent. MALICE, MALICE, from the White House of the United States of America against the refugee, the weak and the powerless.......................and here we are, where we never left. So no, Trump and all his liars cannot appropriate, wrestle and stomp and bury the truth to get a 'Fools Gold' badge of compassion and mercy no matter how they spin or gaslight. The glaring reality for me, being reinforced everyday by this administration of mismanagement from hell, is this - THEY CANNOT BE TRUSTED TO TELL THE TRUTH MOREOVER, EVEN WHEN CAUGHT, DO THE RIGHT THING!
Liberals have a three-step plan for immigration.
1. Create a crisis
2. Emotionally exploit the crisis
3. Benefit from the crisis
Liberals created this crisis by luring millions of people to illegally enter the U.S. with promises of sanctuary and benefits (i.e. medical, educational, etc.), chain migration, and protections against any form of legal control of their immigration status. California has gone so far as to legally prevent mandatory E-Verify.
Liberals then block any form of border security that physical prevents illegal crossings, knowing that this would prevent millions of bogus asylum claims.
The result is predictable. Millions of people across Central America, Africa, and the rest of the world crash the U.S. border and overwhelm the systems and processes in place.
Liberals then show pictures of the chaos that they themselves created, leveraging it for political gain and campaign contributions.
The third and final step is to establish a large pool of young Democratic voters that can be activated via a future general amnesty.
Create a crisis. Bemoan the crisis. Exploit the crisis.
It’s the Democratic way.
12
This is not the time for conspiracies and a rant about Rep vs Dem and who is better. This is about showing humanity and stopping the nonsense while our President Trump does not care.
2
@John
Ahhhhh, you know about the conspiracy. But I've never seen you at any of the meetings.
1
@John
Well ... that's called an "alternative facts" bubble, remember?
If you want to get in contact with the real world, just look up WHO passed the latest bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill, including a tripling of border patrol agents, e-verify etc?
Obama.
And under whose watch did immigration numbers sink to a historical low, before they massively rose under Trump again (because of the fact that he threatened to close the border entirely, so people knew that NOW was the moment to still try to get in before it was too late)?
Obama.
Finally, what is causing people to flee to the US? Poverty and climate change.
Who invested strongly in fighting them in Central America and at home?
Obama.
Who ended those programs?
Trump.
And the list goes on and on ...
Time to wake up. Cynicism never helped us move forward, remember?
2
100,000 undocumented economic migrants a month cross the border, over a million a year. That's the population of a major US city per year. It's not sustainable. Shame on both parties but the main blame should especially be placed on Democrats for holding out the carrot for this lawlessness just so they can have future voters and the demographic change they need for their Latin American style soclialist policies.
7
How about the US stop interfering in Latin America. US interference causes violence, economic turmoil, and the displacement of populations
@Zejee Oh, c'mon! Exactly what did the US do to cause the population of the Northern Triangle to triple -- x 3 -- since the 1970s?
Time for Stephen Miller to find another job. Also too how come the evangelicals who back trump are so quiet?
13
Meanwhile, right-wing media outlets like Fox are still reporting that the Democrats are misinforming people about the conditions. They aren't reporting on the IG report at all.
10
@Seri It's because these conditions have been reported on months ago.
1
In the U.S. The perpetrators should be prosecuted for crimes against humanity, starting in Washington. I was just following orders is not a defense.
8
It seems to me that instead of any incarceration for these people, both adults and children, it would make more sense to have an all out effort to immediately transport them by bus and plane back to their homes.
I think that it wouldn't take long for the word to spread that "trips to the border are useless."
5
I don’t think you understand the situation in these countries. Get the US out. That would be a start
The reality is that there is a border crisis. Trump was right about it. Dems have been supporting Open Borders.
A key problem is that the world is over populated, many countries have too many people for the land, they have corrupt and weak govts, and their treatment of women is archaic. They are also burdened by rigid social and religious dogmas about society, family planning, and rights.
The population problem is an ecology and economic problem, perhaps more than a compassion issue. Those who look at the few hundred thousand faces at the border don't seem to be away of the hundred million of desperate people stretched out over the rest of the world who would like to escape their misery and emigrate to the US or EU.
And those people who naively think the US isn't full should look at the 50 million plus Americans in poverty, the housing and education crises, and the lack of good jobs in America for workers, especially the young.
Having compassion doesn't deal with Nature. Nature doesn't have any compassion for overpopulation.
The economic cost of the current border crisis is likely to spiral ever upward. The generation of migrants will put enormous costs on many already struggling communities.
We need to help the desperate people in their own countries. They need family planning, support of women's rights, health care and education. Importing their misery is bringing economic and ecologic misery to the US.
Politicians are even more gullible and naive than ever.
5
Gee, maybe you guys shouldn’t be attacking Planned Parenthood and all the international family planning programs, huh?
It’s amazing how the United States suddenly became “Full” right after Central Americans began immigrating. By the way, did the US Fire Marshall post a sign somewhere declaring a “ Maximum Safe Occupancy”?
2
Unfortunately, reading the comments, it appears that a good proportion of readers of this publication are rather pleased that such appalling conditions apply in US facilities. I used to hold the opinion that Americans were a generous and fair-minded people. Obviously, not everyone, even among readers of a liberal publication.
I am dismayed.
15
We are a generous people. We are a nation of immigrants but also a nation of laws. People who want to come here to better their lives are more than welcome to but have to apply for citizenship just like everyone before them. Legalizing illegal migration is not the solution.
1
@Matt Your response does not apply to the comment.
It is too bad so many are coming to our country that has poor laws and a congress that refuses to fix the laws we have.
5
@Ricardoh
It's not "a Congress" that refuses to fix the laws.
It's a GOP Congress.
In 2013 already, Obama managed to get a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill (including tripling the number of border patrol agents, e-verify etc.) through the Senate with a super-majority of 68 votes.
Since then, the GOP House has refused to even allow a vote on it - knowing that if they would allow a vote, the bill would have been passed and signed into law, and then its own base would finally have known that the GOP only (yes, the party that in January decided to even no longer pay border patrol agents at all, for more than a month) is keeping our borders MUCH more open that what could have been the case for years now.
As long as people cultivate cynicism and rail against "Congress", without studying who does what in DC, nothing will ever change.
@Ana Luisa Tripling the number of border agents does nothing but let the illegals get better guidance to a center. We need a law that makes people apply for entrance from there home country like my forbearers did. Not just show up at the door.
1
Overcrowding, part of the caption under that photo. That is a gross understatement. No human deserves to be treated this way, it's heartbreaking. But of course the person who is responsible for this isn't human. He's much too busy planning a grand parade for himself at the taxpayers expense. The best thing that could happen is a no-show and a huge thunderstorm with heavy rain and lightening. He can stand there and talk to himself, because really who cares what he has to say. This wanna-be dictator is a maniac and so are those that hover around him doing his unsavory bids. Once we dump all of them we must work hard to regain our sanity and repair all the damage he has inflicted upon this great country.
16
If this were the plight of Americans because of a disaster, would not the President activate the military to provide immediate relief?
8
Not if they were Puerto Rican.
1
@Bill Carter:
What did he do (or rather didn’t do) with Puerto Rico?
The Trump Administration's treatment of incarcerated fellow human beings is either following the Saudi-North Korean-Russian model or this has been happening in our name for years and we have only just found out
about it. Which is it?
4
This happened with Obama as well and is appalling. It is a humanitarian crisis and not the “manufactured” one we were told a few months ago by almost every Democratic leader.
We need to get control of our boarders to stop this overcrowding and to not have people risk their lives and the lives of children. Legalizing illegal immigration is not the solution. People need to apply for citizenship just like everyone else who immigrated here in the past. There cannot be a fast track.
1
Even North Korea and Russia do not imprison toddlers.
We need to do a better job at the border. We are a nation of immigrants. Trumps grandparents were immigrants. As is his
Hollywood wife and her parents.
How can we keep starting wars like Aphganistan and fund it. That’s a no win war. No disrespect to our military. It’s a waste of lives and money. Money to could be used to help immigrants and asylum seekers. It not illegal to come here.
This joke of a administration needs to come up with solutions. End hatred. Stop appointing people il suited to the jobs they are given. To bad no one wants to work for Trump. Twenty twenty can’t come soon enough. Hopefully the opposition can get their act together.
6
Agree with your comment on endless wars (as does Trump in public statements).
We are a nation of immigrants but those immigrants here legally.
We are also a nation of laws. So legalizing illegal immigration is not the solution.
This is a full on humanitarian crisis we have. Not a “manufactured one”. I am glad
Democrats are starting to admit that. It’s time for them to now work with Trump in securing our boarders and getting control of this situation.
1
Let's go back to basics here for a moment.
WHY are so many women and children incarcerated? Because the Trump (and Bush) "catch and release" system was and is extremely badly managed, resulting in only about 63% of those who were caught and released showing up in court.
Obama decided to put real experts on this issue, and SOLVED it: he created the "Family Case Management Program", thanks to which a whopping 99% of those caught and released showed up in court. So no more need to incarcerate families, no more overloaded prisons, AND, it turned out, a lower cost for taxpayers.
Nevertheless, out of sheer incompetence, Trump abandoned the program, and THAT is the only reason why on the one hand, there are now tons of children in prison who shouldn't be there at all, whereas on the other hand, as other articles have shown, he DOES release part of them onto US streets once again - which without the FCM program means that 1 out of 3 illegal immigrants will now stay in the US illegally and never show up in court.
So EVEN from the perspective of law enforcement, Trump is doing MUCH worse than Obama here. And then we're not talking about moral leadership yet.
What a horrible mess.
18
This was a pilot program that served only 954 people. We have 100,000 people coming across the boarder illegally per month.
We need to change the asylum laws and close our boarder until we can get a hold of it. It is an urgent humanitarian crisis not a “manufactured crisis” we heard over and over about. Children’s lives and wellbeing are at stake.
3
@Ana Luisa
Thank you for your information, and for helping all of us understand the choices that the Trump administration is making in creating long-term detention for families and children in hazardous conditions. However, many of us believe it is not just incompetence that leads Trump to do so much worse than President Obama did; this all appears motivated by malice and racism on Trump's part.
It is a disgrace that we are having this overcrowding. No one should be living in these conditions or take such a dangerous trek, often times with children and sometimes with ones that aren’t their own.
It is a humanitarian crisis. Full stop.
So what is the solution? Legalize illegal immigration? Open boarders?
I say to Congress instead: fix our asylum laws. Stop this magnet that is motivating people to endanger the lives of their kids or allow cartels to exploit children. It’s a disgrace. Close the boarders and allow the few people that have legitimate asylum claims to apply in Mexico or another country.
The status who clearly is not working.
4
You cannot close borders absolutely unless you want to live in North Korea, nobody’s demanding open borders or ignoring border-crossers, our laws and treaties demand that asylum-seekers are allowed a hearing in this country and treated decently while they wait, and where did you acquire these psychic powers informing you about why these people came here?
Just work the problem, for crying out loud. Skip the bellowing, forego the psychics, look at the actual facts, and just work the problems.
It’s not just that some of you people appear to have the moral decencies of a Gila monster, or that you appear to be violently allergic to reality, or even that you’re cheering for some very, very ugly ideas indeed.
It’s that the America you’re honing for—the one with sealed walls around it, the one with the midnight roundups, the one where brutality is deliberate policy, the one where we sneer at our own laws—isn’t worth having.
Just work the problem, okay?
These people didn’t break any laws. They requested asylum here. That’s not illegal.
15
Seeking asylum isn't just legal. You must present yourself at the US border to apply.
Not that there's ever an excuse for mistreating people, especially children, who are being detained.
6
The vast majority of those seeking asylum are coming here to work illegally. Congress should change the asylum laws to allow them to apply from other counties and have their cases adjudicated. As it is now, we are creating an incentive for people to come here with their children or for the cartels to exploit children.
It is an urgent humanitarian crisis that I am glad people on the left are asking no up to. Not long ago, you couldn’t watch CNN or MSNBC without someone claiming it was “manufactured”.
The Democrats need to get past their hatred for Trump and not work with him on solving this issue and getting a hold of our boarders. And legalizing illegal migration is clearly not the solution given that we are a nation of laws. There cannot be a fast track.
1
The immigrants are presenting themselves at the border. After crossing, they immediately surrender to border agents. They are not sneaking across.
1
We can get a man on the moon but we can’t get imprisoned, desperate people beds, showers, personal health supplies or drinking water???
Make America Good Again.
15
Please tell AOC this. She wanted to boycott the company that produces the beds.
This is a terrible humanitarian crisis that I am glad the left is waking up to. Just a few months ago we were told it was “manufactured”.
1
I say, if we can put a man on the moon, then why not put all men on the moon!?
What about the filth and homelessness on the streets of our major cities? Have you been to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland lately? Is the Department of Health and Human Services visiting these areas? Are congressional members going there? Are these people being helped? Or do we continue to step over and around them as we walk down the street? Rats, human waste, needles. This should be a major focus. It is not. Why not?
9
It is a major focus. If you think it isn't, that's because you haven't been paying attention.
The same mentality that vilifies the homeless on our streets also tolerates the gross inhumanity displayed at our border.
1
The condition of these facilities is exactly what the White House wants. Even the im10-15 is looked on favorably by Trump. We elected a malevolent dictator, so this is what the country wants too.
7
That is not true. Trump has been saying this was a humanitarian crisis for a long time when the Democrats were calling it “manufactured”.
Our system is overwhelmed. We need to get control of our boarders and close the loopholes in our asylum system.
We are a nation of immigrants but they came here legally. Everyone else should as well.
2
The government is breaking the law. Is there a way we can enforce our own laws against our own government? I can't stand this anymore.
Boycott the Fourth of July!
10
Why do meals have to be hot?
2
@Vanyali They're getting frozen and uncooked meals. Not healthy, especially in facilities where detainees are also subjected to very cold temperatures.
3
Indeed! Why feed them at all? Why not let them starve, and “reduce the surplus population” (Ebenezer Scrooge)?
4
Why aren’t we marching in the streets?
8
Agree. This outrage should have true believers in Democracy in the streets. Why are we letting this happen?
We should be. It’s a terrible situation. March to close our boarders and get a handle of this mess. It’s not the “manufactured crisis” our wonderful media was recently claiming.
Our system is overwhelmed. Children’s lives and well-being are at stake. It’s time for Congress to close the loopholes on our asylum laws and for us to get a hold of this humanitarian crisis. Congress should work with Trump go stop this.
1
The Democrats must get off their bottoms and do some work. They told us there was no crisis. Now they are telling us there is. Do something. Open up the purse strings. Don’t be cheap. Spend the money. They don’t want good jobs coming to New York and then they don’t want to spend money on the border. We need action. I know they understand the modern world. Get those jobs. Make money. Collect taxes and then use it for good. They are behaving like old cranky people protecting their status quo. They don’t want anyone making any money and then they won’t spend their money on the border. This is America for goodness sake. Make a nice border and treat the people who show up at the door with dignity. All Americans came from someplace else at one time or another. The politicians all want their job and want to keep it forever. They are always so surprised when they discover the citizens don’t like them. They are all cheap.
2
@Lorraine Why Democrats?
2
Democrats said there was no National Emergency that justified Trump obtaining funds to build a wall that Congress explicitly voted against. Democrats never said there isn’t a crisis.
1
Shut them down and prosecute them under human rights violations.
8
This crisis was created by the Democrats. They’re lack of respect for our immigration laws has led these foreigners to believe they can just come in here. If they’re allowed in, there will be no end in sight to people coming. We’ll have a billion people in America. We’ll eclipse China before it ends. It’s time to end this. Send them all home.
10
@Mark I guess you don't remember Reagan's amnesty program. Or all of the corporations and farms run by Republicans who hire and exploit undocumented immigrants.
Our interventions in South and Central America over decades helped bring about this crisis. When Reagan propped up and armed militias, people end up fleeing violence. When we sanction a leader, the normal people suffer and flee poverty.
Release them back into Mexico so they can all go home.
This is not our responsibility. Lets spend our money on our citizens!
9
Republicans don’t want to spend money in anything except enriching the rich.
The treatment of these people is disgusting and inhumane! I cannot celebrate “independence “ day while these immigrants are being held this way. I am ashamed to be an American. I am ashamed of this country.
11
Protest the 4th all you want — it’s a free country.
But please get your Democrat politicians who were just recently saying this was a “manufactured crisis” to work with the president to secure our boarder and change our asylum laws.
Children’s lives and well-being are at stake. We can’t allow people to come here illegally. They need to apply for citizenship like everyone else. We are a nation of immigrants. LEGAL immigrants.
1
The conditions at the border are a preview of the conditions all across the country once another 20, 30 40 million illegal immigrants join the 22 million already here (according to a recent Yale study.)
The quality of life -- the access to health care, the conditions in public school, the resources available for American citizens -- has already deteriorated markedly in many places in the US because of the lack of will by national leaders to resist unlimited illegal immigration into the US.
What are we supposed to do to preserve our national sovereignty, rule of law, and the integrity of our borders in the face of overwhelming pressures from illegal economic migrants? Figure out a way to turn them around quicker, if possible under our broken laws.
12
Those tuning into the first 2 Democratic debates heard for themselves the candidates position on borders security and sovereignty...they don’t believe in either.
11
For decades both parties turned a blind eye to illegal immigration. It was a cheap source of labor. This put strain on our schools and downward pressure on the wages of our working class.
Trump has the guts to take this on. Democrats who recently told us we had a “manufactured crisis” are finally starting to wake up to the fact that we don’t. They now rightfully agree with Trump that we have a humanitarian crisis (although they would never admit that).
It’s time for the Democrats to work with him and get control of our boarders once and for all. Change the asylum laws and build the walls. Let people apply for citizenship the legal way, just like everyone else.
3
Who is operating these migrant centers? Are they federal employees or is the federal government contracting out work that its own employees should be performing?
In either case, it is clearly a dereliction of duty. No federal job description would state an employee treat people under their control to conditions described in this and other stories about life in a migrant center.
Top federal officials are failing in their legal duties. And so is Congress if its members do not rectify this terrible situation immediately.
7
1) Don’t believe everything you read even in The Times
2) This is a terrible problem for Border Protection and immigrants but please don’t ignore that Democrats held up funds to address the problem...Some are still angry about it...
3
@JAC
Thank you. The lead picture says a lot.
But the question is "who are the top federal officials and federal employees in charge of the detention centers and the living conditions of the prisoners?" Surely the IG report names some of them.
@JAC
Inspector General reports are carefully edited and usually get the facts straight.
Please read the title and opening sentence of the IG report: fact?
I just cannot fathom the misery that our government is inflicting on innocent people who are desperate to escape a dangerous situation. I cannot trust that these conditions will be alleviated given the current political climate. I am so ashamed of for our country. This will go down in history as one of our worst moments. Decent people in all countries must be looking in aghast at the United States right now. I just cannot articulate how horrified I am feeling after reading this article. Please continue to report on this. Public outcry is our only chance to end this torture.
11
Many, many countries are dealing with the same immigration issues we are and they are sympathetic to our problem. You’re simply wrong ..,
The inhumane treatment of immigrants that are seeking asylum, including separating parents from their children, goes against American values and the rule of American law, which provides migrants with due process and a hearing on their asylum claims. Because of these truly high crimes in term of both moral values and American law, this mistreatment of immigrants should be one of the articles of impeachment against President Trump.
12
It used to be that the male in the family would come and later send for his family. Now children are being sent so that they can get in before DACA is overruled.
What do we say to those who have gone through legal channels? They don't count? Why do this legally if you don't have to? We are rewarding those who "skip the line". That is why there are so many at our border and why we don't have sufficient places to hold them in good conditions.
I would bet that 95% of these migrants are not asylum seekers - defined as those who can't go back to their own countries for fear of death for reasons of race, religion or political opinions.
14
@leftrightmiddle Cold; heartless; and mean. Conservatives have piggy banks where their hearts should be
13
@leftrightmiddle
Asylum is a “legal channel”.
10
It was never necessary to lock up all of these refugees (and there are good reasons for considering the majority to be refugees in the traditional sense of the word). Donald Trump and his administration have deliberately created a human rights crisis because, as they've admitted at times, they hope to create such awful conditions that no one will want to immigrate here from "undesirable" places such as Central America. They ignore (they don't care about) the fact that the refugees commonly feel that their lives are in danger, so that they have no choice but to leave. Most people in the Trump Administration probably aren't even aware of the major role that the United States played in the development of gangs in Central America (not as policy, but as the byproduct of a combination of policies and lack of policies), not to mention our support for military and police who have been and sometimes still are large scale human rights violators. We actually owe Central American refugees for having done so much to make their lives impossible, and for doing so little on the ground to fix problems that we played an important role in creating.
13
@Stephen Merritt
"It was never necessary to lock up all of these refugees (and there are good reasons for considering the majority to be refugees in the traditional sense of the word). “
The U.S. offers asylum to anyone who qualifies under the 1951 U.N. Refugee Convention - those who are fleeing persecution due to their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Immigration judges have been finding that only 10 to 15% of Central Americans qualify. They have been issuing deportation orders to the rest.
The problem is that few leave. Since they are not being held in detention, they are able to “disappear" into the general population of undocumented migrants.
Democrats who want to get rid of ICE (such as AOC) refuse to increase funding for the Immigration Service out of fear that some of it would be used by ICE. They do not want ICE to deport anyone. These Democrats think migrants who have been issued final deportation orders should be allowed to stay here.
This is why the House took months to pass a bill allocating more money to the Immigration Service. Without sufficient funding, the Immigration Service has not been able to afford to house the migrants in better conditions. Nor has it been able to deport many migrants whose requests for asylum have been denied.
Central Americans are seeing that few are being deported so more of them have decided to come, adding to the overcrowding.
1
The Republican party has been trying to tell us there is a crisis on the border since at least last summer. The Democrats ignored it. Now that the Democrats have found it, they're upset because provisions were not made for all these people.
8
@O'Brien Trump intentionally is cruel to these people to discourage immigration. Cutting off aid to these countries made it much worse in their home countries. Trump is the problem; inflaming hate; cruelty and bitterness.
7
@O'Brien No, the Democrats asked for money to be spent responsibly (on immigration courts, at ports of entry, etc), not on a useless wall.
These people chose to come here hoping we will take care of them. If that is the will of the readership, then I suggest each pays his or fair share, say $100, to provide the money to support these poor people.
9
@ Gladly!
I bet you’re able to help too, since you live in uber-wealthy SF.
7
I’d rather support poor desperate people who have been displaced in large part because of US interference in Latin America. Better than throwing another trillion at our bloated military industrial complex—or starting another endless war for oil
@No
Definitely the right idea.
But $100?
Add two zeroes and no decimal places, and you'll be much closer.
1
The tragedy at the border must meet with Trump's approval since he is doing nothing to alleviate the problem. His first order of business should be to reunite the children with their parents but then they were separated in the first place pursuant to his orders. MAGA? Really?
4
To all those who support this atrocious treatment of refugees: how would you like to be treated if you had to flee the US?
13
the president blows his horn over the stock market, the "deals" he makes (with tyrants), unemployment rates, and more. he threatens allies, insults friends, and damages america's standing in the world.
he never mentions immigrants in cages except to state that President Obama built the cages (which were never meant to hold children separated form their parents) or the homeless, or the hungry, or anything that might take the shine off his appearance to his "base." his "best people" are generally as cruel as he is with little care for anything outside their limited field of view.
why not? didn't he say he would be president to all americans? and many of the immigrants want to be americans. not for free healthcare, food, housing or anything else - but for the opportunity to have the chance to live their lives making an effort to become citizens. that's what makes america great. NOT HATS!
6
Easy solution. Don’t let any more people into the country until the detention facilities are back to the low occupancy levels that Democrats are willing to fund.
10
Yes, that’s a very easy solution, except if your one of the thousands of immigrants who will then not have a roof over their heads and might even die in the desert. Trade wars are easy to win too.
7
@Richard Winchester
Everything is easy to Trump supporters.
7
@Richard Winchester
Why don’t we just hire a few judges to process asylum claims quicker? Easy peazy.
3
The Democratic House majority could propose
legislation to fix this mess but then what would they have to run on in 2020? As a taxpayer, I oppose open borders.
9
The House could propose, yes, but the Republican led Senate won’t approve any Democratic proposed legislation and even if they did, Trump would veto it.
9
@Vetwithcommonsense
You don't seem to oppose open borders very strongly, though ... if not you would have known that the only president in two decades who has been passionate enough about strong border security to get a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill through the Senate that would TRIPLE the number of Border Patrol agents (from 18,000 currently there to 60,000), install e-verify etc., has been Obama, whereas it's the GOP House that since then (2013) has refused to even allow a vote on the bill - knowing that if they would do so, it would pass, and then their own voters would finally see that it's the GOP and GOP only that ACTIVELY keeps the border open, whereas it's time and again Democrats who are interested enough in national security to BOTH deal with the border in a morally responsible way, AND strongly increase border security.
That being said ... thanks for your service!
3
As a tax payer, you pay for due process of law for all entitled to it. People detained as part of due process must be kept safely and in good health.
4
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
This is part of a poem enscribed on the Statue of Liberty that was written specifically for it in 1883. It's a strong reminder of our past, but times also change in ways that cannot be ignored. In 1883 what did people pay in income tax? 0%.
How did we pay for our welfare and other entitlement programs? We didn't have much of any. There were 'poorhouses' where people could put in a hard days work for a solid meal and a little bit of cash - not dissimilar to the situation one finds today with day laborers. But people mostly had to fend for themselves, or go without.
This meant any migrant who came to this nation was effectively forced to contribute to society. And in this regard extensive migration was only a boon. But today this is not how nations operate. Governments spend extensive amounts of money to sustain individuals who cannot sustain themselves. This is indeed more humane than times past, but it also means that individuals who do not manage to contribute to society can now turn significantly burden it.
I wish we could accept any and everybody, but we have an obligation not only to altruism but to sustainability and healthfulness of our own nation to ensure we remain a nation people *want* to migrate to for decades and centuries to come.
4
@Jaymes also the poem was written long before the nanny state
6
The “nanny state” seems to be included in Jaymes’ larger point.
1
@Jaymes
I have never met an immigrant who didn’t contribute to society. And EVERYONE who complains about income taxes I have ever met is a drain on society. The rich, lazy jerks are ruining this country, not the hardworking immigrants.
1
I'm sure the agents are "overwhelmed" but whose fault is it.
If we were at war with Central America, the CBP's actions would constitute war crimes under the 1949 Geneva Conventions (the 4th Convention, to be precise). These conditions are a national disgrace for which Trump and Mitch McConnell bear responsibility.
11
This is the result of half-baked policy or no policy and no willingness to reach a two-party solution. This is the actual and real result of one-sided politics and political appointees being both temporary and un-qualified. This is what happens when policy is non-existent or not-followed at the basic level because the higher level is ineffectual for an extended period of time. Whatever it is now, it'll be worse by 2020 because true humanity requires that we stand together rather than divide along racial, gender, religious, party lines, etc. Guess what folks...it was our basic humanity that protected all of us. apparently we are all on track to losing that which is a shame because it is the unwritten last line of defense individually and collectively. God Bless the USA?
5
@J
The policy they're following is literally the same one that was established under Obama. Personnel changes don't change underlying policy. Policy is determined by law, not by fiat.
@Viv
Child separation and arresting and holding everyone indefinitely is not law, it is a new policy invented by the sadistic Trump administration.
@Viv It is the implementation that has drastically changed.
It is not the federal government who builds or does not build the housing for these refugees, but private companies who build and profit from this crisis as in the building of prisons, the feeding of prisoners. That's what might make good news: who owns these companies and why is this the manner of handling, or not handling as in the recent charges allege. I doubt there is drinking from toilets which AOC did not need to repeat as tho it was truth. It's enough to see the crowding in cages, under the underpasses in El Paso, those children lost or shipped elsewhere as though simply cargo. Democrats could not sign on to the Nielsen bill for money for good reasons. Trump stonewalls, states one day the price tag is this much, the next day moves the goal posts. All who seek shelter from their own countries of origin cannot gain asylum to this country, but to many desperate people, they are giving it a try. Policies, solutions are achievable. Until then, for all in us that is human and good, these stories from the border along the Texas/Mexico border in the main, must be changed.
4
Nobody is proposing a solution.
At best, some people are outraged at the conditions, and want "better" conditions.
And after better conditions, then what?
I ask again: Then what?
(sound of crickets)
8
@Travelers
Deportation. Enforcement of international guidelines that mandate you apply for asylum at the American embassy in your own country - especially when over 80% of the cases from your country are denied by a judge due to lack of merit.
That's how economic migration works for people who are not geographically lucky to be able to walk to the US.
7
This is exactly the same fate Trump has planned for others, namely the homeless situation he wants to see "cleaned up" and "dealt with".
Think I am overstating it?
Wait and see who's next.
8
Democrats in Congress only want to offer oversight hearings, not solutions. They embrace the squalor because they believe it helps their election chances in 2020.
Shameful.
5
@Dave There was a bipartisan immigration reform bill. Trump backed out at the last minute and the Senate (McConnell, really) then dropped it.
Shame on us. I cannot believe how low our country has gone. Please contact your representatives to demand better treatment for migrants. But let's also demand sensible immigration reform and an effort to stem the flow of refugees. We should do all we can to help our southern neighbors improve conditions in their countries so that people will not be so desperate to leave in the first place.
5
This description is exactly why the Democrats should nominate the most electable candidate possible! Put aside ideological Right Wing concerns and get rid of TRUMP. Nominate a Dem that will attract moderates and "disgusted with Trump Conservatives." Outvote the Trump Right Wing, and rid America of this amoral "Plague President" disguised as a human being! Everyone needs to come together, forget party affiliations, stop name calling across the aisle and vote to MAKE AMERICA NORMAL AGAIN!
This is a reflection of what the USA has become. We elected a president ho hs contempt for the law, is indecent, vile and cruel. He is us and we are him.
5
So suddenly the Dems have decided there is a crisis. Bully for them. Has anyone asked AOC, Omar, Tlab why they voted against humanitarian aid? Maybe they were just waiting to get their photo op at the border,
9
@Jackson
I think they have been very clear. The Republicans removed any rules that would have tied the funds to humanitarian purposes only.
4
It’s easy to conflate opposition to a relief funding bill with actual opposition to relief funding - until you take into account the GOP-crafted loopholes that would allow the Trump administration to divert funding to the empty symbol of a border fence/“wall”.
4
We need to take the millions that are being used for the July 4 celebration in Washington and use the money to improve conditions in these facilities. That would be a true celebration of what our country stands for.
12
Thinking I'll at least turn my flag upside down on the celebration of our great country. Worked hard all my life only to have Trump take a lot of the joy out of it in retirement. Hard to live a good life with what we're doing now.
8
This looks neat and tidy compared to San Francisco’s Tenderloin, of course San Francisco’s homeless are free to move their grocery cart or the pieces of cardboard they are sleeping on to the next garbage down the street so can they can rummage through it for their meal, but keep telling yourself that we don’t have enough problems already, problems that have been here through many, many administrations, both Republican and Democratic. This weeks Times had an excellent article that accurately depicts America as no longer the “great” place we profess to be but in many ways very much like a third world country. As heartbreaking as the immigration crisis is we need to solve the crisis at home first, not add to them for the purpose of political posturing.
13
>>> "As heartbreaking as the immigration crisis is we need to solve the crisis at home first, not add to them for the purpose of political posturing."
"We" are largely responsible for creating both the immigration crisis and the homelesslness crisis you cite. And we have plenty of resources to solve both. What we don't have is the desire or willingness to do so.
6
@Douglas Correction , the top 1% have plenty of resources and aim to keep them ; the rest of us support the programs with our taxes ; if people sound cold , it's because the burden falls on us to supply the resources . The politicians are the ones largely responsible ; I do agree we have to help our own ; a portion of our feckless voters did vote to elect Republicans who gum up the works .
1
Agreed. “We” are too busy staring at our phones, cheering for our “home” sports teams, and chasing after that new SUV we can’t really afford. Not a lot of time left over to get involved with things as boring as policy or politics.
2
Man's inhumanity to another human.
Everyone of "these political prisoners", ARE part of the human race.
Anyone of us who can look at our fellow beings and answer the question, "when you were hungry, did I help feed you?"
We should also ask the question, "if we had our choice for our location of birth, where would it be?"
Question. How far would we walk to feel free from harm to our lives and those of our children?
We should ask these questions and then we would know the answers.
"We're penalizing those who search for these answers."
6
@carlamaybe. They are not political prisoners. They are economic migrants who don't qualify for asylum. Words matter.
1
@Jonathan How do you know they don't qualify for asylum when they are still waiting for due process?
I have an idea; don’t enter a nation without legal permission. Problem solved.
If it is so bad in America, they can waive asylum and leave.
Build the Wall! Higher and longer than every other on earth. And a moat. Laws matter. Rules matter.
15
@EWG
Indict the president per Mueller report. The law matters right?
You only care about the law as an excuse to inflict harm and hurt these people. We can handle them coming here. Your law rhetoric is just an excuse and often invalid.
3
@Mathias I think you'll change your mind when they move into your neighborhood , get into accidents without insurance , overwhelm social services , public transportation , schools that will have to teach bilingual education , so many ways you and the rest of us will pay . Most people have worked hard to have the so called American dream which is a sliver . I do agree with you about indictment but he has wrapped himself up in an obscure and legitimate law about indicting a sitting president , so much for your law rhetoric .
1
@EWG . Yes and one of our laws is that people detained need to be treated humanely and have rights to due process.
Just a few months ago it was Trump's manufactured crisis that doesnt exist. Now its the Trump administrations fault? Lol. When you have 70k to 140k people each month showing up at the border, with roughly 50k beds to house them, what do you expect to happen? Democrats first denied fo a year that there was a problem when Trump proposed a wall, and now there is a humanitarian crisis caused by the Trump administration? No, as usual, Democrats create incentives through bad policies, in this case, our easy asylum laws, and then blame Republicans when 171 million people who want to come here start taking advantage of us. Democrats are such disengenuous political opportunists its beyond comprehension!
14
Why do you think there’s this surge of people seeking asylum under Trump? I’m asking in good faith. Immigration laws haven’t changed, except for DACA coming under fire. Is it like when people go out to buy guns when someone is elected who pledges to more closely regulate their sale? Have bad conditions in the countries of origin just reached a tipping point, maybe related to the cutting off of humanitarian aid? Is it famine related to climate change? I don’t think we can have a conversation about it without doing a serious root cause analysis. “Build the wall” doesn’t count.
2
@RD
Give them their asylum date and let them go. We used to have a 90% show rate. That might change now from abuse but that’s the fault of people like yourself.
@Kathy The surge is because all the smugglers and liberal activist groups for months told people if they want to get in, they need to come now before Trump closes the border. The criteria for requesting asylum was relaxed under Obama to include fear of domestic violence as a legitimate reason to claim asylum...in other words, anyone who might vote for democrats or have naturalized children that might vote for democrats are welcome. If Republicans start getting more than their current 44% share of the latino vote, then Democrats and the liberal media would immediately call for a change to asylum laws and strong border security, because democrats are unbridled political oppirtunists
1
Well, this is all part of MAGA program but I think we could do better. At $700 a head per day we could put these people up in hotels. Wouldn't need anymore than a security guard since they wouldn't think of leaving with room service, showers, T.V. Etc. Or, pay American families $700 a week to take a family in.
However, this seems like this is the best we can do, put them in cages like we raise chickens. MAGA!
5
The Trump administration's deliberate attempts to deconstruct the state, combined with its unparalleled level of hubris and ignorance, infects every agency in the federal government. It is a key driver of the immigation crisis.
The second is the tone this administration has adopted and the complete lack of accountability and professionalism it has fostered. When the head of the CPB claimed that it was only a tiny number of people making unacceptable and wholly unprofessional comments on their private Facebook group, it was quickly revealed that almost half the CPB's workforce, some 9,000 individuals were members of the group.
The third,and most pernicious, is the political calculation by Trump. He promotes chaos to excite his base. Clearly they have adopted a deterence strategy (accentuated by the first two factors) of making conditions so bad that word will get out and more won't come. From his perspective it gives him the advantage of looking tough and scoring political points. The deportations starting next week, and the military parade this 4th, are all part of his branding campaign for reelection.
But the first two factors, this administration's ineptness and the culture it has spawned, render this strategy impossible to regulate. It will irreparably harm Trump, asylum seekers, and America's image while further complicating the political challenge of crafting sensible immigration policy.
4
So 1 million people and I suddenly flood over the alps to Switzerland and we are surprised they don't either let us straight in or have enough facilities for 1 million people to have beds, doctors, medications, showers and hot balanced meals?
9
“There seems to be open contempt for the rule of law and for basic human decency, Mr. Cummings said." That quote from Elijah Cummings defines the Trump administration. Never have we witnessed the indecency and defiance for the rule of law that the Trump administration has shown. Subpoenas are disregarded and immigrants are treated with contempt. There is no outrage from Republicans, but then what did we expect from a Party which has sought to deny health care for its own citizens and sought to slash the social safety nets while awarding a generous tax cut to the wealthiest?
Tomorrow Trump will fulfill his dream of a Red Square style military parade complete with tanks and a flyover. It will be nothing more than a campaign rally for himself in the guise of a Fourth of July celebration that will cost us millions. It is disgusting to think that while Trump is having an ego trip at taxpayer expense, immigrant adults and children, who are at our mercy, will be suffering for lack of basic human necessities in squalid conditions. Shame on us! No matter what you might think about immigration, it is wrong to treat human beings with such contemptible indecency.
Our country is fast losing its soul. It is painful to look at the Statue of Liberty and not mourn for what that Statue, torch held high, used to represent.
4
These people have come to America, because the Democrats have made them feel welcome. But, don't blame the US for their predicament. If we made these people comfortable, even more would come. We want it too look bad.
5
@Mark How about employers who hire undocumented immigrants? Do they bear any culpability?
Trump, for example, is one of those employers. So is the family of Nunes.
1
Don’t sit idly by. Enough already!
So you read this and are shocked at the inhumanity of it all. Do something about it.
Write or call your congressional representatives. Demand that they state their position loud and clear so it can be noted at the next election cycle. If they remain silent they are complicit.
4
WE can afford to build something that will take care of all migrants...perhaps an Immigration City....high rises that provide everything from administration to hospital care, schools, playgrounds, apartments, etc. including solar and wind, and water. Migrants can join in the work. We have wasted too much time. We need to start now. The United States needs these wonderful people.
1
@virginia kast
Nonsense.
But you are correct we should say thank you and take them in. A republican president supports them and so do I.
Article - George W. Bush says Russia meddled in US election. - AP News
https://apnews.com/fb98faa8f69b4135a9a866e0b61a6593
Bush also criticized Trump’s decision to scrap a program implemented by former President Barack Obama’s administration that allows young immigrants living in the U.S. illegally who were brought here as children to remain in America.
“America’s their home,” the 43rd American president said. “They’ve got to get it fixed.”
Bush acknowledged that he tried to overhaul America’s “broken” immigration system, but failed.
“There are people willing to do jobs that Americans won’t do,” he said. “Americans don’t want to pick cotton at 105 degrees (Fahrenheit), but there are people who want put food on their family’s tables and are willing to do that. We ought to say thank you and welcome them.”
The only thing I see here is democrats using this crisis for political gains. What exactly Mrs. Ocasio-Cortez is doing there? Probably there’s not much of activity in the House. What exactly democrats want? Open borders? Are we ready to receive dozen or even hundreds of millions of people? Stop antagonizing the Border Patrol agency! If you really care about the migrants, you should travel toward our southern border and start helping them! Hypocrisy must end!
5
I'm not feeling much like celebrating American freedom tomorrow.
6
Democrats fighting among themselves over a bill that should’ve been passed immediately. The report yesterday by Ocasio-Cortez of Border Protection telling people to drink out of toilets was completely untrue as stated by individuals who were there. Democrats have no credibility on this issue and only Congress has the power to fix it. It should be clear as to who the racists are and it’s not Donald Trump.
7
Are there no Trump properties that will take them at $750/day each?
5
Where has human decency gone? No need to treat people like this. C’mon America, you’re better than this!
5
As we, those lucky enough to be citizens, prepare to celebrate our liberty, may I humbly submit the scratchings of one Emma Lazarus who wrote the inscription on the Statue of Liberty:
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Strange how many have forgotten those ideals and replaced them with an Orwellian "I got mine, you are on your own".
2
@Newsbuoy
Get ready for the right wing attacks. They will claim a poem, it’s just a fairy tale, it’s not part of our society etc. Just understand all such attacks are an attempt to degrade and force their hostile agenda.
It’s not a rogue agency. The tone is set from the top.
5
These immigrants are going to the United States for the same reasons as immigrants have always gone to the United States — terrible living conditions in their home countries. What’s changed is the United States — not the immigrants. At this point, it’s clear that the Statue of Liberty constitutes false advertising. It should be dismantled and shipped back to France.
And don’t tell me that the immigrants should wait their turn. The US doesn’t give visas any more to the tired, poor, huddled masses, to the “wretched refuse of your teeming shores” in Emma Lazarus’ words. And the US gives precious little in humanitarian aid to the immigrants’ home countries too. It looks bad any way you look at it.
133
@Gil Anav why isn't Mexico City taking them in.
9
We have a system of laws and immigrants who want to come here to better there lives need to apply for citizenship just like everyone else. We are a nation of immigrants but those immigrants came here legally.
We have a system for asylum that is for people being oppressed because of their ethnicity or religion. It is not for people who want to improve their lives economically.
It’s bold for someone in Mexico to cast shame at our country. We have laws and those laws need to be obeyed.
It’s a shame that people are risking their lives and children’s lives by making this dangerous trek. Our asylum laws are being abused and it’s high time for us to fix them and stop this magnet.
We need to close the boarder and let people apply for asylum in their home country or another one.
We are a nation and nations have borders. There is nothing immoral about that. In fact, I believe it’s immoral for Congress to ignore the loophole we have or worse open the boarders altogether.
So please, don’t lecture us about freedoms or decency. Work in your country to take down the cartels. It’s a shame.
9
@Lisa R First of all, Mexico is in fact taking in many of the migrants. But what is America doing? The richest country in the world, with the greatest economy and lowest unemployment ever in history, (just ask Donald), and we can’t afford to take any of these people in? We can’t afford to provide them toothpaste or soap? We can only throw them into filthy cages and watch while they suffer? This country has lost it's collective mind. There are employers begging for more help. There are cities and towns, even states, that are suffering from population loss. Social Security is unsustainable because we need more young people. Why aren’t we looking for solutions that are good for the migrants AND for America?
10
Doctors are surprised more haven't died? How do we know they haven't? How does anyone know? Out at these remote facilities, it would be pretty easy to dig a mass grave. If they are hiding migrants now, why would they go out of their way to report every time one dies? Of course they wouldn't. The ones we know about are just the ones who happened to leak out.
4
This is the tip of the iceberg of hatred and bigotry beneath this administration’s very thin veneer of “be best” to “keep America great”. If this horror is re-elected, it will be proof that all hope is gone for a civil republic, because the citizens are too lazy and gullible to care.
3
These conditions are inhuman. Worse, people have recognized that this can easily happen unless efforts are made to expand facilities greatly and in a short time.
Sessions led this administration in it’s efforts to make entering the U.S. from the South as nasty as they could to deter. It has become disgrace and the people are still coming. Time to stop being jerks about it and to do the right thing. These people are here and they have a right to be heard and their cases adjudicated in a timely manner.
We are a big and wealthy country which has the ability to address the problems well. The President is a failure at doing his job and the Republicans in the Senate are making no effort to help correct the mess he’s let develop.
83
It’s a disgrace that children are put through this whole ordeal. I can’t blame people who want to better their lives and their kids lives to come here but we are a nation of laws and they need to apply like everyone else.
We are a nation of immigrants but those immigrants came here legally. It would be a disgrace to legalize illegal migration as many on the left propose.
It’s high time for us to close our border in the South and change our amnesty laws. Congress is the one that got us into this mess and Congress is the only one who can fix it.
2
@Matt
And while we wait for Congress, how about treating those who are applying for asylum as they are legally entitled to do, with some basic decency until their claims are processed?
2
@Casual Observer The blame lies with Congress as a whole, not Trump, not the GOP Senators. You cannot blame the US for enforcing current law, the issue is that Congress is not financially supporting the current laws. That is 100% on the Senate and House as a whole. Not Trump, not Obama before him or Bush before him.
984 comments so far, only a handful with solutions. AOC and her crew have had a few days to let the true situation soak in, still no ideas from them or they'd have been the top headline. Quit complaining, start doing.
2
@Midwest Josh
The House has proposed solutions. With Republicans controlling the Senate. they haven't gone anywhere. Put the blame where it belongs.
4
Is there an OIG report on the squalid conditions that existed during the Obama administration?
1
@pak152. This is it! Right?
This is horrible. Im sick to my stomach. I’m not saying these people needs to live in hotels, but this is just not right. They are humans. With families.
5
It is a humanitarian crisis. I’m glad the left is starting to realize this. Close the borders until we get a control of the flood people coming here and fix the asylum laws that are being exploited.
We are a nation of immigrants but they came here legally. Anyone coming here to improve their and their children’s lives should apply like everyone else. Legalizing illegal migration is not the solution.
1
These remind me of post-Katrina images. Shameful then; shameful now.
7
Our President thinks everything is just Hunky-Dory in the migrant containment centers. I propose that, as a good American, Donald Trump invite all those migrants to stay at the White House where they can have all the food and showers they need. And if there are too many for the White House surely a great real estate developer like our POTUS could make room for them in Trump Tower, NYC and other Trump properties across the nation like Mar-a-Lago. We know how generous and altruistic our president can be so surely he can find homes for all the endangered asylum seekers.
2
And I can't help but wonder what the Evangelical's , Christians, and other religious and other TRUMP supporters feel when they go to the place of worship and read the sacred teachings are feeling when the see this humanitarian nightmare. A horrible example of the true nature of Trump the IMPOSTER has for people of brown color; it is the badge of admission for the Wealthy Class to view the poor, the disabled, the hungry, the needy, the raped, the sick, not just of our country but all around the world with disdain and disgust. And it is the Principle reason that TRUMP is not doing anything but making life as miserable for these people as possible without committing genocide. It is only one small step away of what the world witnessed in WWII. Someone just has to strike a match.
Therefore to all the Trump Supporters who think this man is a man of ethics, honor, empathy and sympathy, wake up for the day will come when the Creator will ask , "where were you when this was happening." I would love to hear your responses.
2
@anthony ciccarelli
This is a humanitarian disaster and I support Trump in his efforts to stop it.
Democratic leaders a few months ago were calling this a “manufactured crisis” over and over again on CNN and MSNBC. I am glad they finally woke up to the fact that this is a humanitarian crisis. And it’s high-time for us to stop this.
We are a nation of immigrants but people came here legally. We should require anyone looking to come here to do the same — wait in line like everyone else.
We should largely close our boarder and get a handle on who comes here. There is nothing immoral about this. If we do it, then we won’t have so many people risking their lives and their children’s lives making this trek.
And we need to have Congress change the amnesty laws. Right now the loophole is largely being exploited.
I understand people want to come here but we are a nation of laws. Legalizing illegal migration is not the solution.
Absolutely disgusting of our own citizens and press to blame us for the disparity of these illegal immigrants.
They made the choices in their homelands and chose to engage in illegal behavior in a nation that is not their own. As a taxpayer, a citizen, and a son I have zero guilt for the treatment of these people. They are invaders and if our nation had any guts we would halt all immigration immediately and electrify the borders or use force to repel them.
5
The vast majority are not illegal. Our immigration law demands these seeking asylum present themselves in person. It’s disgusting some many of us are ill informed
8
@Tim Rutledge asylum is granted not guaranteed and with that they indeed are illegally occupying our country.
That’s the key there. Congress is the only one who can fix this loophole in our asylum laws. Democrats need to act now to change this law and in the meantime we need to close the boarder and get a handle on this situation.
I am glad that the Democrat leadership has woken up to the fact that we have a humanitarian crisis on our hands and they are no longer claiming on CNN or MSNBC that it is “manufacture”.
Our amnesty laws are bein exploited by a lot of people and they are risking children’s lives in the process — many of which are their kids but some of which are not
So what does Nancy do?
Goes on vacation. She’d rather use this as a 2020 campaign issue than try to end the suffering now.
1
@Ed Watters
She tried. Mitch wouldn't let her.
3
Hopefully now she admits it’s no longer a “manufactured crisis”.
Close the boarder and change the asylum laws that are creating a magnet for people to risk their lives and the lives of children.
For more than 70 years, Americans and citizens the world over have questioned how soldiers in the German Wehrmacht "simply followed orders" in executing inhuman acts to fulfill their leaders' "final solution." What will it take for our own government employees, ICE, Border Patrol, et al, to see the administration's orders contradicting their ethics, and to NOT carry out those orders based on such ethics? Will it be herding migrants into something worse than exists already? Will it be an order to shoot?Because that order came from this president already. If we ever possessed a moral high ground on human rights, he has lost that for us as well.
3
Has Trump ever heard of logistics?
3
Not according to the liberal socialist party "Democrats". Their leadership stated with complete confidence that their is no crisis at the border. Why be concerned they have it all under control, right.
2
Why should anyone be surprised? Trump has shown his disdain bigotry for people of color. And just like his businesses, Mr. Big Deal, destroys everything he touches. He is the living lie that 63 million Americans got suckered into believing, and voted for the loser. When someone goes bankrupt nine times and only the Russian controlled crooked banks will lend Trump money? Hello, America, the lights are on, and King Donald wears no clothes!
4
“A picture is worth a thousand words”.
— Apocryphal
Yesterday on “Deadline White House” ex-Lt. Gov. Michael Steele assessed the probable impact that this sorry debacle will have on Trump’s grip on the Oval Office. Roughly paraphrased: this will strengthen it, especially with white Evangelical Christians.
The people packed into overcrowded cages are poor and brown. Steele described them as “The Other” and said what Trump has done — deliberately — is to legitimize cruelty, neglect and abuse towards “The Other” to please those Christians because that’s what they want him to do.
They feel besieged. They see America — their America, their white Christian America — imperiled by this flood of poor brown people from the south. They want it stopped and them punished. They are not sympathetic towards their suffering or plight; far from it. They want them punished and celebrate it, and Trump, for inflicting such misery and pain.
Steele added that they will lie to pollsters, indicate no preference for Trump, but will vote for him on election day.
This presents immense difficulties for his opponent because the most potent lines of attack that can be used against him — bad character, personal corruption, incompetence — carry no weight with his base in the handful of states that will decide 2020. They accept his “imperfections” because he’s keeping his end of their bargain: packing courts with conservative judges who will protect them and their America, and keeping “The Other” at bay.
4
US foreign policy, and sanctions, created this human disaster, refugee crisis!
3
If you’re going to violate my laws I really don’t care.
4
I take it that includes our laws guaranteeing the right to ask for asylum, to have your case heard in court, and to be treated decently while you wait.
4
This is how Donald Trump's MAGA campaign comes to fruition.
1
If American taxpayers fund pristine detention centers at the border to house every illegal alien who crosses the border, it will only encourage even more illegal (yes, the term is illegal, not "undocumented') to bum rush the border. Do the research and look behind the optics; most of these illegals have been coached how to plead for asylum. They claim persecution in their home countries, without any proof of mistreatment. International law REQUIRES that they seek asylum in the first country that they enter to escape persecution. In 100% of these cases of Central American asylum seekers, that country would be Mexico. Stop this madness and hand wringing for law breakers. Build the wall, high and strong, all the way from Tijuana to Brownsville, Texas. It's the only reasonable and feasible solution.
6
Sadly you have been fooled by the Trump administration. His administration has created, manufactured a crisis for political gain. He is also conflating illegal immigration with applications for asylum. When an immigrant arrives at the border, turning him or herself in, seeking asylum, that’s not illegal immigration. A wall is just a huge waste of taxpayer money. I for one am tired of paying taxes for ridiculous projects.
3
Uh, so what you’re saying is that the only people on the entire planet who can seek asylum in the US are Canadians and Mexicans, both groups of which have no reason to seek asylum.
We treat convicted murderers and rapists better than this. We can handle the flow of immigrants humanely, if we choose to so do. For the Trump administration, the cruelty is the point. VOTE THEM OUT!
7
Two words: Disgusting; Reprehensible.
Meanwhile, Trump is staging a massive parade celebrating his narcissistic ego.
7
We are all immigrants. Shame on us!
3
If you read other publications and news outlets, this article wouldn't be a surprise. What happened to the talking point "We don't have a crisis at the border"? The border control agents have been telling anyone who is honest to listen to them that they are overwhelmed and that the facilities they are operating were never built to handle this flood of humanity. Why aren't these people staying in Mexico? Read past the NY Times to get the truth. No where in this article are the claims verified by a actual journalist - they are only repeating hearsay. BTW, during WW II the NY Times published often reports that the horrors of Nazi Germany were overblown and not true.
2
You haven’t become aware of the IG report, the government’s own take on the conditions at detention centers?
Please take it into account and reconsider.
3
@Manny LoGalbo The IG report's facts were already known to those reading widely and listening to other news outlets. Months ago.
Is this not, on top of everything else, an impeachable offense? Come on Nancy Pelosi. Get off your high-horse and do something! The whole world is watching.......
7
She’d rather use this as a 2020 campaign issue then in the suffering now.
This latest Trump idea is beyond me. Trump has taken little children and put them in horrible jails. Trump and his supporters are shameful, period.
5
Putin has his Gulags....
AND
Trump now has his.......
9
We no longer have a President, we have a Commandant of Concentration Camps.
Mr. Trump, you should be ashamed, resign.
8
Send them back across the border. Problem solved. Sick of Democrats looking out more for law breaking illegals than American citizens
7
You do realize that they’re applying for asylum, not illegally immigrating?
2
"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" - Statue of Liberty.
Or, as Trump and his supports would add "So we can lock them up like animals and throw away the key."
And this, my American cohorts, is who we have become.
Time to fight back, and not put up with this crap anymore!!
8
Don’t send anymore. America is full
3
Like many in coastal NC, I volunteered with a nonprofit to help unload hurricane supplies sent from all over the nation to our area after Florence. We received blankets and clothes, food, diapers, formula, toys, medicines, blankets, flashlights and batteries, and a bewildering amount of other basic necessities. I remember wondering why. Why do we wait for emergencies to send basic supplies when people need them every day? Now I'm wondering why again. Why, when we have these things in surplus, can we not be more generous with people who come to us looking for help?
4
Every person should be appalled and angry at the inhumane treatment of the migrants. It does not matter what your personal opinion on immigration policy is. No one should be treated like this under any circumstances. It is our 'problem' and we know that we can do so much better and yet the Trump administration does not do so. It is a calculated and cruel choice they have made. This crisis has been made by the Trump administration and is being used for political purposes. They must be forced to stop this squalid abuse because they won't do it any other way.
5
@ Elizabeth... So what do you suggest the administration does about this? Should we just have open borders?
3
@Ryan: No. We should reimplement the Obama-era rules for processing immigrants. They were dismantled by the Trump administration and replaced with this travesty of a "solution." Their idea is to just scare people from even attempting to cross the border. Well, it is clearly a lousy plan that is not working. The more they threaten to build a wall or close the borders, the more people come rushing to get in before that happens. So go back to dealing with it as we did before. The Obama administration deported more people with less fuss. And because the system was working smoothly, apparently no Republicans noticed, because they currently seem to be laboring under the false impression that nothing was being done. Obama and the Senate also passed an immigration reform bill in 2013, which the Republican-controlled House sat on for five years. Why? Because if the Dems had been allowed to solve the immigration problem, the Republicans wouldn't be able to use now it as a wedge issue to split Americans who might otherwise unite for other causes. You are being used by dishonest Republican politicians who don't want to solve the problem at all. They want you to get all riled up over this issue, and they will do anything to stop Democrats from fixing the problem.
2
@Allison... Let's be honest, politicians on both sides aren't interested in getting things done, only in staying in power. As a result, you too are being used by dishonest Democrats who are gleeful at the images from these detention centers and want to use this as a wedge issue in 2020 to get you riled up to vote. Also, it's democrats and liberal do-gooders at the ACLU and other organizations that are coaching these people up on how to exploit our asylum laws. It is simply irresponsible to encourage people to come to our borders in this manner and the do-gooders are directly responsible for this mess.
1
More evidence that Trump has no idea how to do his job. Border crossing where 2x this level under Bush and you never heard about it. Obama was a real President and he managed like one. Trump ran several businesses into the ground and his companies are tiny, shady family entities with mob ties. What did anyone expect?
8
@ Tim... Bush and Obama didn't have tens of thousands of people fraudulently claiming asylum in order to game the system. They had good old fashioned illegal aliens (oh, how I long to see that word used again) crossing the border illegally. The liberal do-gooders at the ACLU and others of the same ilk have coached these people up on how to claim asylum to gain access to the interior of the USA. This is a recent phenomenon and it's overwhelming our infrastructure.
4
And after the hearings are held and Democrats pound their fists on the table and excoriate the acting head of Homeland Security and others responsible for the inhumanity taking place at the southern border, then what? What happens next? Who will be held accountable for this? Who will be punished for this? What actions will be taken to relieve the horrific treatment of the immigrants? Will we see action taken? Or will we just have more hearings and more talking heads interviewing members of the House on MSNBC?
We need ACTION - not words.
5
All this while Trump meets with murderous dictators, throws out a functional Iran deal, starts trade wars, robs funds to pay for a completely partisan wall, robs funds to host a military parade no doubt to celebrate himself, runs huge and growing deficits, tries to upset the census, packs the courts with radicals, promotes the idea that our law enforcement can't be trusted, ignores briefings from experts, meets with Putin and tells no one what was said, insults our long-time allies....
Congress, do your job and get on with impeachment. That way at least the members of the Senate have to go on the record as supporting this tyrant and hopefully this will permanently stain them forever. Any Senator that does not support removing this man from office has no business holding office.
5
It's crazy sad how much Donald touches centers on racial issues. Imagine the adults and their children of Danish, Swiss, French and Scots, flooding our borders trying to escape oppression and destabilization that overtaking their homeland.
Would the pens and cages we see today look the same? Would ICE too often function as it does? Would Republican voters, members of Congress, the religious right loom so uniformly callous?
Starting political fires, either through malice or ineptitude, conveniences an executive branch whose major function it seems is to distract and disjoin. Would FauxPo, if he could have his way, replace the Stage of Liberty with a seawall labeled Trump towers?
As we reflect on our national identity today and tomorrow, we might to do well to remember it's supposed to center on what makes us one nation indivisible., and how deeply rooted our country's essence is in pluralism.
6
What happened to the notion of impeachment? Trump and McConnell are only getting bolder and more outrageous. Congress should remember that it has the power and obligation to impeach. Trump long ago passed the “high crimes and misdemeanors” threshold long ago.
4
Where are the fire marshals? Exceeding legal capacity of space.
7
I think that for Trump and his followers the inhumane treatment of asylum seekers is an intentional effort to provide "negative reenforcement" in the sense the term was used by B. F. Skinner. That is punish the children along with the adults for legally seeking asylum, and like touching a hot stove they will stop coming. Wrong! They may stop coming legally (to seek asylum), but unless the lawlessness in central America ceases, they will still have to come.
3
@Paola Contreras (who hit the nail in its head)
Thank you for this comment.
The problem is unfortunately right inside your comment. The US funded the disaster in Central America for decades if not longer. We brought one crackpot dictator after another as we watched the populations being decimated without a single qualm.
It is the same today. We preach human rights and we fund their abuse globally. All for the sake of money. Capitalism dictates our lives and everything about them. Hypocrisy is part of our DNA by now. We go to church and pray. For what? More hypocrisy even in front of God.
Let at least vote for Bernie and Liz in 2020. They are made of what it takes to reverse course. And that is what we need to do.
4
Crimes against humanity but Trump campaign raises $105 million to continue the madness another 4 years? Apparently, half our country has entirely lost their compassion and critical thinking skills in continuing support for this abhorrent administration. Dear Conservatives, a pass to you for voting for Trump the first time; however, a second time is inexcusable.
6
Isn't time travel great?
Look at these pictures, and you know EXACTLY how Indians on reservations were treated in the 1870's and thereafter. Squalid conditions, garbage for food. They're not really human, so who cares? Bureau of Indian Affairs-appointed traders grew obscenely rich on the money intended for the welfare of the Indians, which the traders simply kept for themselves.
After George Armstrong Custer (of all people!) and others testified about the corruption on the frontier posts, and kick-backs going to highly-placed individuals in the Grant Administration, Congress investigated the matter, which ultimately resulted in the resignation of then-Secretary of War Belknap.
Now, back to the dismal present. Imagine- Congress investigating? Finding that an oppressed and disfavored people nonetheless had rights which were being violated? A cabinet member held accountable, and forced to resign? Say what you will about so-called "progress," those legislators of the 1870's make today's Congress look like the small children they really are.
4
This is the fault of the people promoting these caravans and encouraging people to cross the U.S. border. Okay, so say we don't have a wall, border agents, etc. What then? They come here and knock on doors asking to be taken in? Would you say, "Okay, sure, come on in." Or see a FOR RENT sign and inquire about taking the apartment without having a job? Join the homeless camps in LA and SF? How about all the altruists volunteering to sponsor a person or family? Or perhaps the U.S. government can build NYCHA-esque housing? Oh, but wait, that takes years. What realistic remedy is there? It is the promoters and encouragers that are responsible for this disaster.
3
Appalling that this is happening in America. I was so glad to see that Trump's latest poll numbers dipped. This nation is better than this and we will fight to get our country back from this authoritarian nightmare.
4
People breaking our laws shouldn't expect anything but prison-like conditions.
5
@Gofry
Didn't know it was against the law to seek asylum. Thanks for the update.
1
@Gofry: Except: (1) It is not breaking the law to apply for asylum. (2) Even prisons have better conditions than this.
2
One more disgrace heaped upon a small mountain of insults to America by this administration. But this one should weigh more. These are poor, mostly innocent victims of rampant violence in their own countries seeking sanctuary. Most walked the thousand or so miles from their homes to the US border and presented themselves for legal asylum. They are not gang members, drug runners, smugglers or ISIS. There will be a reckoning for the people involved with this cruel treatment, in this life or the next.
4
It's a terrible situation. Being overwhelmed by asylum seekers/economic migrants/refugees truly taxes a nation's resources. This is what happens when demand exceeds support systems. Targeted legitimate immigration paths, including international refugees, have always built a nation and have provided for the economic, social and cultural needs in the US. The issue that needs to be addressed are the cheaters and border jumping asylum seekers who linger indefinitely in the US at a great economic cost. Most have no employable skills and many are illiterate. It's always difficult to make the jump from third world to first world successfully.
6
I say this as someone who opposes human population growth, including via immigration--America's treatment of these migrants shows us to be a cruel, heartless, unethical country.
What I commonly hear from Trump supporters is racism, derision, hatred, demonization towards these impoverished, desperate people.
Ironically, many of these Trumpers claim to be "Christians."
A main reason for mass migrations from Central American countries is that abortion is illegal or impossible to get in most of those countries, along with contraceptives.
Women are forced to be brood mares, and in desperation they struggle hundreds of miles to come here.
We're in a battle for the soul of America right now, even worse than the Civil War.
4
This is Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again." True, these unfortunate people are not our responsibility, but if we are going to detain them, then treat them as fellow human beings. This is shameful and heartbreaking. Here is another photo op for Ivanka Trump. Oh wait, she only does North Korea and the Middle East.
3
This is a crime against humanity. We have condemned such acts by others in the past, but not by our own. TRUMP is a criminal, and should/will be in jail. His time can not come quickly enough.
3
Nothing can justify removing children from the custody of their parents or guardians, separating them in different facilities, and keeping them caged in horrendous conditions indefinitely. If these agencies followed their own rules these people would be released within 72 hours to relatives in the US, their locations kept up to date in records, with the adults given ankle bracelets to wear to monitor their whereabouts pending their asylum hearings. Thousands of immigrants seeking asylum have been released in this way before the Trump administration adopted its zero tolerance policy. Does anyone hear a hue and cry that these people have taken advantage of their release by disappearing or that they have gone on criminal rampages? No. Because they are law abiding and adhere to the rules of their release.
That the heads of these agencies, which fall under the aegis of the DHS, deny the accuracy of their own inspector's report shows how utterly political and incompetent these people are. They are not civil servants. They are authoritarian lackeys of this administration's cruel, dishonest, political agenda.
Trump and his cronies in the House and Senate must all be defeated come November 2020 otherwise this will not stop.
2
Maybe some of the July 4 money could be spent here instead?
4
This Administration doesn't care about Human Rights anywhere else in the world, why should it care about what happens in this country?
2
This has been in the news for months now, and I have yet to hear anyone talk about upgrading and expanding these facilities so that they can handle the numbers in a humane way. The Army Corps of Engineers or FEMA could build something with adequate space and facilities quickly.
It seems like one side wants them to keep coming, the other side wants them to be allowed to scatter to the interior, and no one wants to deal with the reality that neither of those things is going to happen. They're going to keep showing up at the border, and we're not going to admit them all.
We need massive facilities where they can remain in relative comfort until they have their hearings, at which time they will either be admitted, or they can go home. And unlike a prison or a concentration camp, the South-facing gate can remain open; they can leave whenever they choose.
This is a manufactured crisis. There is a solution that makes sense and doesn't involve inhumane conditions. Our inability to deal with it in a rational manner is a national disgrace.
As an aside, I read somewhere that private contractors are getting $750 per child to house them under these conditions. You can stay in a 5-star hotel in Paris for $750. Are we really that stupid or inefficient? Let's get some management in place and fix this situation, and if a few billionaires don't get the expected return on their investment, tough luck. The nation, the world, and the refugees deserve better.
2
Weren't Democrats saying that there was no crisis in the South border?. Now they realize President Trump was right!
Time to act : complete the wall initiated by Clinton and give the Government the means to contain this invasion.
3
Another article with descriptions of the problem - but no solutions.
4
Coverage for this outrage should not be filed under politics or immigration as though the caging of children and others is a solely a political issue in which two reasonable minds might form opposing views. Would coverage of contemporary Japanese internment camps be covered under mere "politics" or "immigration"? The NYT needs to create a Human Rights Abuse category and thereunder publish every available photo and investigative report. What is happening is not normal or acceptable and cannot be reported as such.
1
Last week there was in news that some little girl from Punjab, India died because she along with her mom crossed border illegally and they could not get water. Now this is disturbing, but more disturbing is that why these guys were seeking asylum? There is no human right violation going on in Punjab. I am from Punjab and it is one of the richest state in India. Only thing that is going on in Punjab is that when people come from US or Canada they convert the money from dollars to rupee and for each dollar they get 70 Rupees. When they stay for 10 days they spend that big converted money on things that they can show off. So now everyone from Punjab want to come in US legally or illegally to earn dollars. And this is the situation with other Southern American countries as well.
2
I think now we can recognize that Trump's claim that the asylum seekers are gang members and terrorists was a lie.
2
Any system of regulation enforced pursuant to policy decisions to prevent unwanted influx of migrants and asylum-seekers must not only be
humane and considerate as respects individual dignity and right to access optimal creature comforts without hint of humiliation of sorts, but also be seen as such to inspire credibility
in the overall proceedings published periodically as world’s human rights watchdog.
2
Plus private firms are making HUGE profits from this cruelty. We need an accounting of this and we need it now.
7
Yesterday, the Houston Chronicle reported on a case in which a hard working immigrant from El Salvador, with an American citizen wife and two young American citizen children was needlessly deported shortly after Trump took office. This loving father had been is the United States for most of his life, and rather than recognize the need to keep the family together while working through the immigration case, he was deported to a very dangerous area of Central America because Trump wanted to demonstrate zero tolerance for immigrants. Yesterday, after more than two years, he was reunited permanently with his family. The trauma this inflicted on two young children, a wife and husband will never go away completely. Inhumanity is a feature for Trump, not a defect to be corrected.
5
Democrats say that they aren’t for open borders. This implies that they would restrict entry.
My question is twofold.
1. On what basis would Democrats restrict entry? Asked differently, what are legitimate ground for entry? Poverty and the search for a better job? Domestic violence? Gang violence? Is there anyone who wouldn’t qualify for legal admission?
2. How would you restrict/control entry? Are any physical border barriers acceptable? If a person crosses illegally and/or has their asylum claim rejected, can they be returned to their home country?
The Koch Brothers and libertarians are honest about their support for completely open borders. They sincerely believe in markets over sovereign nations.
If Democrats cannot articulate an actual limiting principle for immigration, then they must, by definition, support open borders. If so, then they should at least honestly admit it, just as the Koch Brothers have done.
5
"Robert E. Perez, the deputy commissioner for Customs and Border Protection, said he was “very confident” his agents were providing fresh water, food and hygiene products to migrants in Border Patrol custody."
Instead of stretching his confidence to a gossamer thickness of believability, why don't the commissioner and other agency directors appeal to Congress directly with the truth? i.e., that their resources are inefficient to meet the present needs, and that the situations that are being witnessed/revealed will occur and continue as such without needed revenue. I know there are procedures in place to bring the Congress' attention to departmental lack of resources. Thus, I don't understand the need for the lies and the cover-ups of the last several months. In addition to unnecessary human suffering, there's reputational damage: perpetuation of the apparent cruelties and the directorial double-speak to cover the misguided directions of the agencies leads to directors and agency heads with little of their dignity remaining. I can just as easily jump to conclusions as anyone else to explain why what should be happening is not happening, but I'm not in the mood for that today.
I guess what irks me to some extent, as it always does, is that we don't learn of the truths about these tragedies until the Press reports it. Same as it ever was.
3
Border security won’t stop requests for asylum will they? I think the Trump administration has cleverly conflated the two issues. Women and children voluntarily looking for immigration officers to turn themselves in isn’t a border security crisis. The Trump administration’s repeated threats to close the border (impossible) probably have created panic.
1
This is the height of government corruption. Let’s stop sending subpoenas to Trump officials who ignore them without consequence and get the owners of the companies running these facilities before congress. Where does $700/day per person go? Where will the 4.5 billion go? Let’s find out who is getting rich and why do I think they pay less taxes than I do?
3
The tone of the debate has clearly shifted, to my mind.
Until now, the worst of it was about separating immigrant children from their families, a hideous cruelty, but one still short of life and death.
According to the Government's own report, six children have now died in US custody, or shortly after being released.
We are not just ruining their lives; in some cases we are ending them.
Children.
This is the responsibility of the administration of Donald Trump. The killing of innocent children--whether they are American citizens or not clearly makes not one whit of difference in the sight of God and human moral judgement--cannot and will not be quietly swept under the rug.
These are facts about the taking of innocent human life, facts determined by the US government and reported by the credible news media.
It is quite simply up to the American people to resolve never for one moment to forget them in the trying days and months ahead, regardless of party affiliation or political alignment.
2
It appears that we, as a country, have turned our back on Lady Liberty's open invitation. It also appears that we have not moved far from Ellis Island's conditions. Possibly the Occupier could visit these sites in his hometown's front yard?
1
I can't imagine a single American who isn't deeply troubled, even outraged, by conditions in the detention centers. BUT LET"S PUT THE BLAME WHERE IT BELONGS. We know where it doesn't belong: President Trump or the men and women of the Border Patrol. THE BLAME FALLS SQUARELY ON CONGRESS, MOST ESPECIALLY THE DEMOCRATS. In early March, DHS Secretary Nielsen declared a humanitarian emergency on the border. She literally BEGGED Congress to appropriate money immediately to ameliorate the conditions. She said the matter was NOT political: it was a matter of conscience. She begged Congress not to treat the situation politically. The Democrat's answer was "There is no crisis on the southern border." They argued that Trump had created it -- does any sane person believe he led the tens of thousands of Central Americans here? Now, suddenly, the Democrats are making the case that overwhelmed, underfunded Border Control purposely created inhuman conditions, with some even having the ignorant temerity to compare these detention centers to "concentration camps." Now the Democrats are vying with each other to denounce the conditions -- conditions THEY CREATED by being negligent and attempting to use the humanitarian catastrophe as a political tool against the President. This is morally reprehensible, shameful, and outrage in itself. Once we fix the housing, let's tackle the absurd laws, rulings and protocols that created the incentives for illegal entry.
3
@Dr. Svetistephen: What a wrongheaded argument. There was no crisis at the border until after Trump was elected. Before Trump arrived on the scene, the Obama administration had set up an organized system for processing asylum seekers, and they were able to deport more people in an orderly fashion than this administration has been capable of managing. We have a bunch of incompetent idiots running departments now, and they have dismantled the systems and rules previously set up and replaced them with chaos, inefficiency, wasteful spending, and cruelty. It's no wonder Democrats don't want to fund this baloney. If the current administration can demonstrate that they know how to organize operations as well as the last one did, without throwing money at contractors and sub-contractors who are clearly not providing the services they are supposed to, then by all means, let's fund it. But for heaven's sake, don't go wasting money on ideas like imprisoning children. Stephen Miller should be fired, and Trump needs to hire competent, humane managers who have expertise in this area and who know when they are being fleeced by dishonest contractors and service providers.
3
It is funny how this has been an issue about which has been forewarned for a long long time, and the Democrats are just now finally coming to their senses that something has to be done. Democrats are finally recognizing that this really is a crisis. Don’t blame this on our border security professionals, blame it on the do-nothing politicians.
3
All of this started because Trump whipped up the idea that Mexican immigrants were after our jobs. Meanwhile, Russia attacked our election (an act of war) but Trump has not once mentioned restricting Russian immigration.
3
While this is so disheartening, why haven't we stopped to think, the reason so many people are making themselves go through this? What piece of news are we missing from the countries like Guatemala, Nicaragua etc the causes these souls to embark on this ardous journey?
The solution to this problem is to eradicate this cause of mass suffering at the source. Providing aid to migrants is only a band-aid.
2
Just remember: the cruelty is intentional.
6
Why do we don't hear the name of Stephen Miller invoked more often in this crisis as it is apparent he is instrumental. And If there is any justice left in this world he will be brought to The Hague one day
4
And tomorrow we are supposed to celebrate, with our love and loyalty, the great nation of the United States of America. This is not my USA. How much more proof do we need that we've had an as-of-yet unbloody coup? And Trump tomorrow showing off his might with a militarized parade which will surely cost tens of millions of dollars. That's money that could help humanize the stay of our undocumented visitors.
The barbaric conditions in these detention centers are not just about asylum seekers. They say so much about who we are and what this country stands for.
This is not my USA. I will be hard-pressed to celebrate 4th of July this year.
5
To those wondering what to do? Oh, what to do?
I ask, where is the cavalry? Probably not to be organized until the multitudes from Calvary, from Mecca, the Temple Mount, Bodh Gaya, or for those not so spiritually inclined, driven by their personal senses of values and morality descend "en masse" from every corner of our country, on Washington.
Where to start?Given the audience to be on stage, I suggest our Independence Day Celebration in Washington, itself already degraded as its been by directions from the White House.
What we as individuals and as a nation are doing to these asylum seekers , these adults, children, and families, is pure evil. Left alone to continue, it will cost our us, our nation dearly.
The evil being perpetrated at our Southern Border is of our doing. It is being done as well to ourselves, and the nation we will pass on to our children. We must act to undo what we have done.
1
Joe Biden reminded us in the second debate that it was the Trump administration that cut the funding to Central America. They destabilized conditions in Central America for their own political purposes of creating caravans of refugees. fear among his base, amidst the branding of them as "illegals" on FOX, for the purpose of a wall. They employed the diabolical use of psychological torture by separating children and parents, and placed them into caged facilities in subhuman conditions. This is a crime against humanity. Our long history of supporting oppressive corporate power over the working poor needs correcting. Instead, their vulnerability has been exploited to feed fear and hate in the base of this administration. This is what fascism looks like. It is time to realize that any humane leader is the correct choice in 2020. But that leader will need our support. As Cornell West said, "we have no great leaders, it is up to the rest of us." To restore social justice and democracy we must get involved and be the better world that we know is possible.
5
Tomorrow is our nation's birthday. Our fore fathers immigrated to these shores with hopes of creating a better life. Many of the people fleeing gangs and poverty are coming to the border are seeking a better life as well. Cutting off aid to these countries these people are fleeing from has drastically increased this problem. We should be looking into possible solutions at these countries. Separating families and putting them in cages/jail cells is not the answer. Open borders is not the answer either. Trump and his corrupt administration are to blame for this debacle at the border. If not for their extremely poor long term planning this situation wouldn't be as horrific and inhumane as it has become...
6
@MS
You state:
"if 1000 people show up unannounced, how are we to respond? it's not like the infrastructure is already set up for this, especially kids......we are doing the best we can.... "
Perhaps Kevin McAleenan's response to Congress' description of conditions at the Clint facility should not be "unsubstantiated", or that the facility was "clean and well maintained".
Perhaps he should be screaming from the highest mountaintop he can find, describing the horrific conditions that exist, and exhorting the Trump administration to exert some leadership and take a primary role in addressing these conditions. But what does Trump do? He throws himself into the planning of the ridiculous 4th of July celebration he so desperately craves.
Trump is noxious. He causes those around him to abdicate their sense of morality. These camps are just the latest manifestation of this. Our nation's sense of principled standing is slowly being whittled away, and so many Americans do not seem to care.
I am abhorred by this. I do not understand why every American is not also abhorred.
9
Detaining immigrants is a FOR PROFIT business. You charge the American taxpayer around $700 a day per immigrant and you pass that money onto your buddy who owns the private detention center. This needs to be illegal. Use taxpayer money to build adequate facilities and take the profit out of people's misery. America is so good at profiting off of people's misery. Look at their so called "health care" system. It is an "illness supporting" system that is for profit.
14
I think it's time to appeal to the international community for help. Americans are unable to democratically speak, act and stop these atrocities; we watch in utter horror. Perhaps international human rights watchdogs can intervene while we are impotent.
15
I suppose it should at least be mentioned:
AOC was correct.
25
So was Samantha B.
And while these atrocities are taking place, what is the "president" doing? Tweeting about his big, beautiful parade on the 4th.
A dark period in the history of this country. November 3, 2020 can't come fast enough.
18
Looking forward to the parade. It’s going to be great.
2
These inhuman, horrible conditions are a feature, not a bug, for this administration. It's all intentional, even the "leaked" photos. The dehumanization is intentional -- they want to energize the baser instincts of their base.
Yesterday my husband and I got up from watching the U.S. soccer team play when I saw on Twitter that there was a protest led by the Jewish community going on at the NE Holocaust Memorial. It was a five hour detour for us. We marched to the detention facility in Boston where immigrants are being held. They pressed messages against the windows: "we love you" and "help."
I will not attend any July 4 celebration because I am sick for my country. I am making signs to keep in my car so that I can pull them out if we find ourselves near a 4th of July parade while we are traveling this weekend (to Canada ....)
Don't wait for others to organize it. Create your own protest on July 4th by holding up a sign at an event. A few ideas for signs: Nothing Justifies Child Abuse. Close the Camps. Resist the Inhuman Policies of Trump. We Are All Immigrants.
16
We need a Marshall Plan for South America and Diplomats and White House officials and probably every American to be literate and cognizant of our neighbors ‘ complex and long history.
I would strongly urge people to look into the life and writings of former ambassador to El Salvador Robert White. He probably should have been given the job as czar for Douth American diplomacy and planning. He knew both the good and the bad.
And where my I ask is Karen Pence? With her supposed art therapy background she could and should be a voice of advocacy not a silent mother.
Another person to look into tomorrow is Lady Bird Johnson not that her calling was with children but as a role model for her love of nature. Her husband’s administration per her words from Terry Tempest Williams termed her advocacy for the earth as beautification and she did what she could with the room they gave her.
I see no female in the White even beginning to touch the hemline of the clothes she wore.
I suggest we do a study and research day tomorrow look into our country’s history and people.
Who really was Emma Lazarus? Who was Mary McCleod Bethune?
Who was Jane Addams? Who was Alice Roosevelt?
There are so many who could help us now. Learn at TH White recvomended to the Wart in “ The Once and Future King.”
2
The argument/rationale I'm now hearing from some people on the right is that these conditions are better than what they left behind, so they should be grateful. Grateful that we aren't shooting them down, I guess? The inhumanity of the whole thing is sickening.
17
I agree with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The Customs and Border Protection is a “rogue agency.” A "secret" Facebook group of 9,500 agents in an entity of less than 20,000 officers cannot be a secret.
As for the leadership of this agency not knowing about the obscene and defamatory postings - they are either lying or completely incompetent. Actually, they are probably both. The idea that you could not know about this sort of activity taking place among almost half of the staff or responsibly ignore its implications related to job performance is completely preposterous. Almost half? Give me a break. Some of us may be fools... but not all of us.
The broader matter of such prevalent racist behavior occurring among those charged to "serve and protect" goes a long way in understanding the shocking deficiencies. Now I understand why these racists eagerly arrest people in the Arizona desert giving water to those dying of thirst.
I'm the son of immigrant parents and if anybody made this country great it was me, my parents, and my siblings. This agency and this administration is a disgusting affront to that.
Stephen Miller? Donald Trump? Mike Pompeo? When did their relatives arrive on these shores? 100 years ago? 150 years ago? Mine and my Hispanic brothers and sisters, our relatives arrived here 19,000 years ago, not by steam ship but by walking across the Siberian land bridge.
We welcomed, fed, and clothed the more recent European settlers. This is some payback. Words fail me.
13
I find it just pathetic that #45 is spending tax payer money to throw himself a parade and give a speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial this 4th of July like it was his birthday instead of America's (Independence). It has always been day for Americans to gather around the country to have gatherings with family and friends (parades/cookouts), and the person living at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave staid silent. I just heard that part of the funds being used for this event is coming our Parks Department, again #45 stealing funds not intended for his personal use. I find it also interesting that that VIP tickets are being handed out for his rich friends (donors) to be up front at this fiasco, sounds like a #45 rally to me. Since this isn't a rally planned at a venue that would assure those attending were MAGA folks who support #45, but will have those who don't also in attendance. I wonder if #45 will have to offer to pay someone's legal fees if it gets ugly.
3
May Ben Franklin throw a lightening bolt on the entire affair! Or at least thunderstorms and downpours. Hope everywhere else is sunny!
What’s wrong with a parade? Some folks seemed to enjoy the parade in Manhattan last weekend.
1
As you have done to the least of these, you have done to me. JC
13
Amen
I can’t believe we are not better than this! How is processing less than 3000 children out of these horrible conditions not something that we can do TODAY? This administration’s lack of sufficient numbers of judges and personnel responsible at the border to expedite the processing of these poor people is inexcusable. What a tragedy for all of us. This is inhumane!
4
Trump and the GOP are disgusting no doubt in regards to human rights.
However the more I research what's going on in these "migrant centers" the more I see that this is not a new occurrence. The difference now is that the POTUS condones inhuman treatment and is a racist.
These border patrol agents are mainly white supremacists and mercenaries that love to treat people in the worst way possible.
Unreal that the press cannot get into these camps to report on them. This needs to end now.
I see both Democrats and Republicans taking campaign money from people who in some way are invested in these camps.
6
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
This is how you make America Great.
5
Ha! Ha! Ha! "Lordy," as James Comey would say; you can't make this stuff up.
This is tops in the Democrat's playbook: Attach your political opponents with the very conditions you have created.
5
You are serious? If you know anything, this mess was the direct result of Sessions acting on behalf of Trump to discourage migration from the South. Trump has been clear since running for office that his solution was to erect a Great Wall, not to ask for funds to process asylum seekers. No matter what the Democrats approved, Trump was going to have this result, to discourage migrants. Trump is not a moral man, and he is not the sharpest of people, either.
Got it. The Democrats started this and the pro life community could care less about ending it? Hypocrisy? Yes. You’re just pointing the wrong way.
1
And people are castigating AOC for describing the detention centers as concentration camps? A rose by any other name is still a rose.
5
Meanwhile the right wingers are claiming this is all in OAC's imagination.
3
I am 100% certain that the ‘government’ engages in these inhumane practices (and counts on getting away with it) because the migrants from the south have Brown skin.
4
If the 85% of evangelicals who support this administration and its crimes against humanity such as this continue to do so it will just be more evidence that this group has nothing to do with Christianity but a lot to do with hate (bigotry, misogyny, racism, facism).
8
As the Christian Right frequently asks “ What would Jesus do?”
4
Why are we not impeaching this administration already? This is not news, just better documented now. Enough!
2
Is it me or does this whole sordid thing reek to high heaven with what we used to call Un -American ? Now,sadly it's all too American.
3
"And there will be consequences to those who do not adhere to our standards of conduct.”
I'm certainly prepared to believe that. But what are those standards again?
5
“There seems to be open contempt for the rule of law and for basic human decency,”
Standard operating posture for the Trump administration! While we are distracted by the Twitter in chief & his carefully staged reality show there are versions of this obscenity going on throughout the federal government. Trump political appointee's and cronies undermining the rule of law is the rule not the exception.
I knew a Detroit cop when I was growing up, his racist contempt for the people of Detroit (the African American ones) he policed was considerable & not unlike the border patrol agents with their Facebook posts. Somethings never change, they fester beneath the surface waiting for the opportunity to surface. Trump has given the worst of our society the opportunity, permission and in some cases the authority and power to come to the surface.
This is the authentic face of "Make America Great Again" & it will only get worse as the 2020 election approaches.
6
A “challenge to the conscience of America” is Pelosi’s lack of action holding Trump’s administration responsible. It’s time to impeach, Nancy.
7
Shame on us.
Trump’s immigration policies are morally bankrupting the country.
And they are singularly ineffective. From withholding aid to the Central American countries where most of the refugees are from to family separation to deportation, Trump’s policies are making a bad situation worse.
We can have secure borders and treat asylum seekers humanely. Come on Trump. Figure it out.
5
Dispatch compassion, a formerly crucial element of the American experience, and its derived diplomacy...
... celebrate the nations founding with compassion for for those trapped in this disaster 😊
2
If this is how you "make America great again" then we need a whole new definition of what the word 'great' stands for and represents.
6
So at what point are we going to stop calling these places Detainment Centers, and begin calling them what they really are - Concentration Camps. We did the same thing with Japanese with Internment Camps, which were actually concentration camps.
9
Hyperbole, now. How does that help? Trump seems to have infected our public discourse with a habit of ignoring facts in favor of the emotionally expressive rhetoric which conveys what we want others to think.
@Chelsea, They are not being held against their will.
Anytime they want to leave, they can.
Every Trump voter is responsible for this. Every last one.
9
This reminds me of the Warsaw Ghettos. We are on a slippery road to authoritarian dictatorship. With Trump, Mitch McConnell, voting influence by third countries, and the control of the courts we are surely on the road to a minority run dictatorship. Just a matter of time. How do we know that the Trump White house isn't holding Wannsee like debates behind closed doors?
7
The tipoff that something truly awful and deliberate is happening is that DHS will not allow news reporters or photojournalists into these facilities.
7
This is a humanitarian crisis that needs to stop! Democrats: work with Republicans in Congress to stop the illegal migration of people from Central America and to change our amnesty laws that are a magnet for people to risk their lives by making this dangerous trek and overcrowding our facilities!! Congress started this mess and congress is the only one that can fix it.
11
@Matt
Republicans! Work with Democrats in Congress to provide immigration reform that does not maim and kill children and women fleeing violence. Republicans! Work with Democrats in Congress to restore the aid to Central American nations that Trump unilaterally cut, even though his own aides and all analysts say that will increase the numbers of asylum seekers at the southern border. Republicans - ask yourself, why does Trump act in ways that are proven to increase illegal entry in to the USA? Could it be that he wants to continue stoking a humanitarian emergency that threatens families, destroys lives, and pleases his base?
1
I don't know why anyone should be surprised by this. In fact, I can't see why anyone would need pictures to prove the point. A culture of thuggery pervades U.S. law enforcement at all levels and this is the sort of thing it does.
It is axiomatic that "us-them" is the foundational attitude for disparagement, discrimination, degradation. A knowledge of psychology and history make it a no-brainer to infer what is going down at the border.
Before complacently concluding that this is an issue which only affects refugees and migrants, Americans might want to consider that the biggest us-them distinction the police draw is between themselves and the rest of us whom they call "civilians."
5
And into this humanitarian crisis of Trump’s own making, he is gleefully tweeting out his plan to detain hundreds of thousands of hard working immigrants he wants targeted. All this on the day of Jefferson’s famous Declaration of Independence as a means to sow fear in the immigrant communities across the country and do more harm to people who are hard working, family oriented and contributing members of society.
4
My grandfather was a prominent progressive politician who had been petitioning water rights for indigenous communities in Guatemala in the late 60s. He was black listed as a communist during the US led red scare in Central America born out of Mccarthyism and corporate greed. He was tortured and assassinated with his teenage daughter by Guatemala’s military. My mother fled to the US as a teenager and became an asylum seeker. I don’t think she understood the powerful forces behind her family’s deaths but she knew she had to go if she was to have a fighting chance. Immigration denied her asylum in part because the US Government refused to acknowledge that a civil war, financed in large part by them, was unfolding. Almost 20 years later, President Clinton publicly apologized to Guatemalans based on the findings of the independent Historical Clarification Commission that pointed to the US as responsible for most of the human rights abuses during the 36-year war in which 200,000 people died and 2 million were displaced. Today, there is no civil war in Guatemala but the aftermath of the violence remains deeply embedded in the country. So when people flee today they probably don’t understand the powerful forces behind their demise but they know in their gut, like my mother did, that they must leave if they are to have a fighting chance. It’s left up to us, the US Citizens who represent this powerful country, to acknowledge the truth or endorse the simplified bigoted narrative.
23
@Paola Contreras
Thank you for this great comment.
The problem is unfortunately right inside your comment. The US funded the disaster in Central America for decades if not longer. We brought one crackpot dictator after another as we watched the populations being decimated without a single qualm.
It is the same today. We preach human rights and we fund their abuse globally. All for the sake of money. Capitalism dictates our lives and everything about them. Hypocrisy is part of our DNA by now. We go to church and pray. For what? More hypocrisy even in front of God.
Let at least vote for Bernie and Liz in 2020. They are made of what it takes to reverse course. And that is what we need to do.
1
How do we finance and plan for a mass exodus from Latin and South America showing up at at our southern border at will? Anyone thought about how we budget and provide facilities for something that is out of our control? And in the process, let's open the borders, make sure they are comfortable, well-fed, have health care, and are provided with gainful employment. Need a root canal, cross the border illegally. Anyone living in an American slum or struggling to stay alive anywhere in rural America see a problem with this?
26
@DEH, even the president of El Salvador apologized and said that maybe the government there had allowed living conditions to become for horrible that its people needed to flee yet we here still blame Trump personally fir this mess at the border only because it artificially justifies our general overall disdain for the man. No Democrat here in America seems to see any problem in that either? Central Americans’. suffering is just a device for disparaging Trump come 2020. I hope people start to realize how partisan politics is poisoning their thinking before it’s too late. Those kids in that picture need help today, not in November 2020.
1
@DEH
One problem is the number of NYT readers who endorsed your tall tale. The larger problem is that over 60 million Americans voted for Trump, most of them with full knowledge of who he is.
What people with your opinion fail to grasp is that we live in a system where one thing affects the other (kinda like, you know, climate). The terrible conditions in Central America are in no small part a direct result of US intervention during the 70s and 80s (kinda like, you know, Al Qaeda and the Taliban with interventions elsewhere). You cannot have empire on the outside and then turn a blind eye with the long-term, unforeseen consequences of your own actions.
1
The cruel conditions exposed by the OIG report are the result of the abject failure of presidential leadership. Once Trump decided to try to slow illegal immigration through detention, he should have put in place humane conditions.
It’s clear that for profit companies, ICE, and CBP are unable and unwilling to deal with this situation. Other federal, state, and local agencies equipped to deal with public health issues that arise from unsanitary and crowded conditions need to be called on to assist while the hapless administration tries to figure out how to deal with this crisis, which shows no signs of abating.
13
This is all part of the plan. Overwhelm the US authorities. Next, a blanket amnesty, then a drive to get them registered to vote. Then ? Try to convince them that the Democrats are the ones that saved their lives. But Hispanic immigrants are historically conservative, and the great majority are Catholic. You can bet that the Republicans will play the religion card, and the immigrants will vote for whoever their church tells them to. And yes, no matter the separation of church and state laws (or intentions), churches do tell their congregations who to vote for (or suggest who to vote for).
1
Go back to the old ways: if asylum seeker and if has a sponsor, family member or other, release them with their date in court. If an undocumented immigrant, then will need to be deported, but case by case. What is needed is more judges and a better stream line of processing beyond the militarization that is used right now. Oh, and stop saying that the border will be closed or any othervscary shananigans that serve as marketing tool for the coyotes.
15
The most recent CNN poll indicates two out of three Republicans are perfectly happy with the barbaric treatment of these refugees at the border.
That says something.
20
If your first thought when seeing these images, or the image of a father and child drowned is "Well, they shouldn't try to come here illegally", you need to rexamine how you view human life. The hypocrisy of the GOP these days is staggering. They strive to protect unborn children by touting the "all life is sacred" slogan, then turn around and don't bat an eye to this outrage. This will forever be a stain on this country's history.
51
@Ty Whaley
No one forced them to come here. No one dragged that man and his child into the river. And I'm sure the migrants in the picture are free to leave and head back across the border if they choose to do so.
As our politicians, of both parties, have found this acceptable, the next step, they will take, is make the people, in these concentration camps, be put to work to keep the places clean.
Our politicians are too busy trying to keep in power, or get elected. They all have looked the other way, and allowed the current administration to get as far as it has. They all are using these camps for their own political gain.
The human rights violations our politicians are committing deserve inspection from foreign governments. Our politicians, including leaders of this country, and political parties, should be held accountable.
Finally, the is no excuse, on any of their part, to say they cannot do anything to fix the situation. The crime of Democrats is ignorance. The crime of Republicans is violat ing the Geneva Convention. The crime of our legal system is rubber stamping the Republicans. And, the crime of our so called "president" is willingness to conduct torture children, women and men.
4
A waste of good lives.
Soap, education, and jobs
Would solve a great deal
6
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Nothing is more shameful than forgetting who we were.
19
"Shame Shame Shame!" We can and must do better. I shouted this at people brunching on the terrace outside the Trump Hotel on Columbus Circle (Jean-Gorges) in New York on Sunday. They're feasting on $45 eggs with caviar - giving money to a fascist regime that is more than complicit in these atrocities - it is promulgating them. Have you no conscience?
Under international law all migrants have the right to seek asylum. They deserve to be treated humanely. This will surely go down as one of the darkest periods in our nation's history and may it end soon.
Hopefully the person in charge will wind up in jail at some point. Yes, I am talking about you Mr. President.
To put this in perspective - we are a nation of 350 million people - surely we can find space for 100,000 who are leaving behind everything, grabbing their families and running from persecution from reckless gangs (started in Los Angeles and exported back to Central America) and the complicit police. They hope to be running to a place of compassion and care. Instead they are being treated worse than animals.
How much are we blowing on an ego show of tanks and airplanes tomorrow?
So sad. Vote people, VOTE!
23
@Steven. It's 100,000 per month! Over a million a year. No country can sustain that kind of illegal immigration and stay whole for long.
2
No crisis here, right? Thanks dems for extending the open invitation to crash our borders for free housing Healthcare, food assistance and the like... And don't forget to bring a child as your meal ticket so you can disappear into the interior while your "asylum" claim is pending. Time to pass laws that require asylum claims to be made in the first country.
14
@Carole I said this in a comment but I'll say it here too. If your firth thought when seeing the HUMAN BEINGS being treated like animals. These CHILDREN, CHILDREN, CHILDREN not being given soap is "well they shouldn't be here illegally", you need to take a long hard look in the mirror. All life is sacred huh? Isn't that what Republicans say over and over? Right, not central american lives though.
8
It will always come back to hunt you. The brutality which has started with immigrants will end being directed at Americans. Just a matter of time.
10
This is a disgrace. People who support this administration and its commission of such atrocities should be ashamed. But they aren't.
11
@David G. - I'm not a Trump supporter, but I'm not bothered in the least by the detention of migrants. It's long overdue. If Democrats are outraged, let them fund a vast network of prisons to hold them all until they get their due process and are deported.
16
It’s a free country. If migrants don’t like the condition they are living in (which is no different than what was experienced during their travels) they are free to return from whence they came.
Also, if they had enough money to pay cayotes they should save a bit more before coming so they can buy their own toothbrushesl
13
@nessa it was reported that all belongings, medicine, toiletries, extra clothing was confiscated when they entered detention.
2
What kind of people have we become? The answer is obvious. Shameful.
12
REALITY blaming Pelosi for delay in funding is appropriate
9
Is this what “Make America Great” again means? Shame on our leaders, shame on Congress, shame on us....
10
I wish I was some type of pro athlete so I could take a knee and bow my head during the customary opening jingoistic ceremonies. America under Trump & Co. makes me ashamed and sick every day.
9
@Ken Nyt - pro athletes should do much more than just take a knee, with the $$ millions they're paid. Make a difference, don't take a knee..
The report describes overcrowded conditions in CBP processing stations that are not designed to hold detainees overnight. In normal conditions, migrants spend about 12 hours at the stations before being transferred to DHS facilities. The stations operate today exactly as they operated under previous administrations, but they have been swamped by a tsunami of illegal border crossers.
The article says, “The report fueled Democratic lawmakers’ resolve to press for answers from the Customs and Border Protection agency,” but the report incorporates the Department of Homeland Security response. It says, “The current migration flow and the resulting humanitarian crisis are rapidly overwhelming the ability of the Federal Government to respond. In March 2019, CBP encountered over 103,000 illegal border crossers and inadmissible aliens. In April 2019, that number exceeded 109,000—the highest monthly levels in more than a decade. CBP facilities are at peak capacity, primarily due to record numbers of Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) awaiting placements with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). As of June 7, 2019, nearly 2,800 UACs were waiting in Border Patrol stations that were not built nor equipped to house them. By June 25,2019, however, that number had reduced to under1,000.”
The emergency $4.6-billion spending bill that was opposed by many of the Democrats who now bewail overcrowded conditions will upgrade the processing stations.
13
The report describes overcrowded conditions in CBP processing stations that are not designed to hold detainees overnight. Migrants normally spend about 12 hours at the stations before being transferred to DHS facilities. The stations operate today exactly as they operated under previous administrations, but they have been swamped by a tsunami of illegal border crossers.
The IG report incorporates the Department of Homeland Security response. It says, “The current migration flow and the resulting humanitarian crisis are rapidly overwhelming the ability of the Federal Government to respond. In March 2019, CBP encountered over 103,000 illegal border crossers and inadmissible aliens. In April 2019, that number exceeded 109,000—the highest monthly levels in more than a decade. CBP facilities are at peak capacity, primarily due to record numbers of Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) awaiting placements with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). As of June 7, 2019, nearly 2,800 UACs were waiting in Border Patrol stations that were not built nor equipped to house them. By June 25,2019, however, that number had reduced to under1,000.”
The emergency $4.6-billion spending bill that was opposed by many of the Democrats who now bewail overcrowded conditions will upgrade the processing stations.
7
Trump was determined to spend that money on a wall. The wall represents a big far sign for people south of the border to know that they are unwelcome. He made a promise to the xenophobes in his base to keep out the foreigners from Latin America. If the money was agreed to deal with the processing and safe holding of all those people, the Democrats would have provided the money. But everyone knows, especially Republicans, that Trump is a manipulative low down scoundrel who will evade any agreement that he makes that does not advantage himself. Republicans approve of making the lives of asylum seekers like being in hell.
@Casual Observer
The $4.6-billion funding bill passed last week. None of it is for the wall.
This country was founded by people fleeing persecution and hardship. Our migrant friends are no different! The United States is NOT for one race only. It doesn't belong to anyone. It belongs to anyone seeking a better life. Not just white people!
Is there anything we can do to fix this situation? I can't just sit here and let this happen. They are torturing refugees. On our own soil! How can we stop this?
4
What a SHAME! Children having to live under filthy conditions. It breaks my heart and instead of slinging mud at each other .... both parties needs to get into action and lend their hands to make the situation improved.😖
4
Maybe after his VIP-invitees-only celebration of "Independence" Day, the President could visit some of these detainees and toss out some paper towels--kind of like Obama serving Thanksgiving dinners at homeless shelters! Photo op!!
2
People can try to defend the Border Patrol , and other agencies involved with the concentration camps—as that is what they are—but I see little value in statements from the BP director or the Secretary of DHHS. They like their jobs, and they know to keep them they must do Trump et al. bidding. If throwing away their presumed morality and humanity as part of that bargain with the cabal in the WH, so be it, apparently.
5
There is an old Italian joke: There was a dangerous hairpin turn in a mountain road. It caused many accidents, with cars plunging into the valley below. The government studied the hairpin, and released a paper. It recommended building a hospital at the bottom of the valley.
Simply building bigger and better facilities on the border is not the answer to the problem, although it’s necessary if we’re to call ourselves civilized. The problem is 1000 miles south of the border, in Central America. Money and time spent to repair their governments, to help them control their gangs, to rebuild their infrastructure, will do much to eliminate the problem. Restore order, and hope. A woman does not walk 1000 miles with her young children if she isn’t driven to it by despair.
11
We need to stop interfering in Latin America. US policies lead to violence, economic turmoil and the displacement of populations
Customs and Border Patrol is not a rogue agency, as characterized by Ocasio Cortez. They are following orders. The systematic dehumanization and torture of migrants at our southern border is government policy. And if “The inhumanity at the border is a challenge to the conscience of America,” as Pelosi states, it is a challenge we have already failed. This “inhumanity at the border” has been tacitly accepted by the majority of Americans. Else, why aren’t House Democrats staging protests, stopping government until this is addressed? Why aren’t the rest of us screaming and tearing our hair out? We allow this to happen. While we dither over impeachment and hold our noses at the latest Trump outrage, our government commits sustained, ongoing crimes against humanity, tormenting innocents and destroying lives. This is a stain we will never erase. This is a guilt we will never absolve.
5
Our nation’s President has an ego that feeds off the anguish, suffering and chaos that he himself creates. The unfortunate people who fall under his authority are most vulnerable to becoming the Presidents victims. Where executive protection is the expectation and the norm, executive-driven misery is the practice of the Trump’s administration. Trump’s implementation of the executive power that he holds has a pathological bent to it that leads him to lash out and insult his staff, his political peers, our allies around the world, and other peaceful neighbors who cross his path, especially those who really need his help. Trump’s most egregious hatreds are reserved for vulnerable immigrants who are appealing to the better angels of our nation to share the Spirit of America with them. That human need evokes the demons of Trump. The most vulnerable and meek among us are his chief victims, subjected to having their families torn apart and their children held in cruel and traumatic conditions perhaps never to see their parents again. While Trump’s Republican Party celebrates “freedom” with a Fourth of July military parade in DC, the freedom they are asserting is that which is taken at the expense of the innocent children and families held in cruel captivity simply for believing and acting on the American dream. Yes, freedom isn’t free. Innocent children are paying a heavy price for it today.
5
Beyond the inhumane conditions and the long- term physical and emotional impact on the children, I'm surprised nobody is discussing the true national security threat (in addition to the occupant of the Oval office): these kids are going to grow up to despise America because of the way we're treating them.
5
@LauraNJ - as long as they despise us from Honduras I'm okay with that.
1
Everyone is outraged, yet it is still happening and people are suffering.
Do we citizens have any legal recourse against this administration? Whatever happened to "We the People...?"
Those responsible for this inhumane treatment should be tried in a court of law.
Trump blames Obama but that is not an acknowledgement of his responsibility and accountability.
5
Not to point out the obvious but human cruelty is not an effective deterrent to human migration. Immigration is going to happen regardless of policy. Look at the data.
Immigration as a percentage of US population follows a very predictable cycle. At no point in recorded US history has immigration ever topped 15% of US population. That's actually the high water mark. We generally average something like 10% overall going back to 1850. We happen to be near the peak of another immigration cycle.
Trump supporters simply don't like the composition of this new wave. Immigrants today are mostly Latin or Asian. However, the Italians and the Irish weren't anymore welcome in their day. We didn't lock them in cages though. We sent them to wars and slums instead.
The hypocrisy of course is we may never see another immigration trough due to climate change. A point which the Trump administration refuses to acknolwedge. Attack immigrants but ignore the threat on the horizon.
We are probably going to become domestic immigrants ourselves within the next half century. Who today doesn't consider climate change when considering relocation? I'd never buy a property in a high risk area. I wouldn't even look for a job there. There are relatively prosperous cities today which are going to be abandoned. Think about that.
7
trump considers many US cities dangerous wastelands. “I’m very embarrassed by what I see in some of our cities,” Trump said at a news conference last week in Osaka, Japan. “When you look at Los Angeles, when you look at San Francisco, when you look at some of the other cities — and not a lot, not a lot, but you don’t want it to spread. And at a certain point I think the federal government, maybe, has to get involved. We can’t let that continue to happen to our cities.”
Yet, even more squalid conditions for detainees at the southern border are obviously fine with trump. He's not embarrassed by them; he has no interest in them. He apparently considers these inhumane cages acceptable. After all, they are just illegals.
trump has better things to do, like spending millions of tax dollars on a ridiculous July 4 tribute to himself. Feeding his ever-needy ego with self-congratulatory fly-overs and tanks is more important than feeding desperate humans on his border.
11
I feel ashamed of OUR country. We are a good people trapped with a government that has evil intentions.
I feel deep sadness. And I feel helpless to help.
17
The answer is 2020 - register, vote, volunteer for a candidate,
3
@phc-on-the-lake
I'm sorry, but we are not a "good people."
We've voted for warmongers. We heroize soldiers who invade and occupy small countries that never attacked us. We refuse to do yellow-jacket style mass strikes to purge government corruption.
We don't do mass boycotts to shut down corrupt corporations.
We just stood by when SCOTUS stole the election from Gore in 2000.
Americans re-elected George W. Bush AFTER knowing that he lied us into the Iraq War, and elected a reality television grifter as president.
We consume a hugely disproportionate amount of the world's resources and have the largest military-industrial complex of any country.
How "good" are "we," really?!?
3
I’m volunteering for Trump!
This is happening on our own soil. If this was a war, and asylum seekers combatants, we would be in violation of the Third Geneva Convention in terms of treatment of prisoners. Our Founders stated clearly in our Declaration of Independence that all men [people] are created equal and endowed by their Creator (not simply a government) with inalienable rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Seeking asylum is not a crime but how we treat people who make it to our shores apparently is. Homeland Security must purge it's ranks of overt racists and bigots. Leadership needs to stop the mental gymnastics needed to paint a rosy picture of detention facilities. The Republicans need to start acting like party hacks and as Americans concerned with our values as a people. This needs to stop now.
11
I would like to see a solid plan for dealing with this situation in a humane way instead of just reading about weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.
5
Good luck with that. Has this administration ever produced a comprehensive plan for anything? No. They shoot from the hip or more accurately do what they’re told to do by fox news.
1
I think Australia has the right idea. It takes every migrant trying to reach Australian shores and places them on islands. Perhaps the U.S. could work with Mexico to arrest these people before the reach America, before they start abusing our due process and claiming “asylum” and send them away to Guantanamo or elsewhere where they would have no rights under American law. Italy is doing similar things by paying Libya to block migrants from crossing the Mediterranean. The bottom line is that we don’t want these people, and American law is structured such that once they are here it’s almost impossible to get rid of them. Keep them out to begin with.
13
Australia’s system is rife with abuse and mismanagement. It is not a model that works, and the Aussies have been shamed for it. Do your homework.
2
@Andrew - I’ve done my homework, and while people like you criticize Australia (who cares?) the system has worked in keeping away illegals.
2
The media should run photos of overcrowding conditions and the one of the drowned father and child side by side with photos of Trump’s opulent parade.
What will Trump’s worship-me parade cost? How much food and shelter would that pay for?
Pictures are worth a thousand words.
11
@Saints Fan, kind of you not to mention how begrudging their joint support was. Even they couldn't stomach how political a charade they've turned this into.
And tomorrow, for the first time, the President of the United States will celebrate the 4th with his war toys. He can afford war toys but not decent treatment of asylum seekers?
16
@Diane Yes. we should not be spending on illegals.
1
The Trump administration have tires in its singular mission to subvert the rule of law, the Constitution, or any sense of human dignity.
Hate, greed, and violence is bad government policy.
"Centrist" Democrats who refuse to actually LEAD their constituents toward love, investment in humans, and peace, are helping the Part of Trump destroy the USA.
Lesser Evil compromising with Greater Evil creates Evil. One sided compromise is surrender and defeat.
Stop mistaking surrender for a path to victory.
If you want Good, you have to fight for it,
5
“There are no bad cops, there are only bad captains.” I recall hearing this on a late night radio show from Chicago during a late night drive when police brutality was being discussed nationally. Now, we have a heinous President from whom all and sundry are taking lessons in proudly behaving badly.
5
Is there civil or criminal liability associated with the decisions leading to this? Has the IG forwarded issues to the Department of Justice for review?
7
Just like the detained migrant children, AG Barr who apparently stopped bail for migrants in April, is a Roman Catholic.
Source USA Today said
"Barr, who oversees the nation's immigration courts, issued a decision on April 16 ordering immigration judges to deny bond hearings for asylum seekers, which would keep migrants in detention while they wait months, even years, for their claims to be heard."
Apparently he is now flip flopping about this, but his original impulse was to deny the bail they were formerly entitled to.
This has gone on until now.
Some Christian. Jesus says in Mathew 18:6
"and whoever ensnares one of these little ones who trust me, it would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and be drowned in the open sea!"
The Evangelicals had a choice between listening to Jesus or supporting Trump. They chose Trump.
14
This will be a shameful period for America for generations to come. We, who care, are not even permitted to donate to this humanitarian crisis. The GOP owns this. We the People are protesting, but apparently, that all we are permitted to do. Americans are known for donating to charitable causes, but we cannot help in this situation. Call your representatives, although it appears no one is listening. I'm so ashamed of our country.
11
@Saintsfan. Think back two years when there was bi-partisan immigration plan on the table. Trump blew it up and the GOP enabled and enables him. If you just go by the facts, you can't help but come to the conclusion that this is of the GOP'S making, they own it now and history will record it.
3
@MDavy: We already have a Democratic majority in the House and it steadfastly refuses to act.
Calling our representatives is approximately as effective as hopes and prayers.
Not so. Trump declined to use the funds allocated by Congress for border protection and immigration last year. Trump used only a fraction of the appropriations for the border, then claimed he didn’t have enough (because in truth he only cares about a wall).
Do your homework and stop lazily watching Fox.
We should never ignore the possibility that one day we may be the climate refugees and be treated as we are now treating those who seek asylum.
9
@V you won't face this issue moving from your coastal city to say, Kansas. If you try to waltz into another country and demand a retirement package, perhaps you too will be sent packing.
Readers are living in a fool’s paradise if they think these conditions haven’t existed in most county jails since the beginning of drug prohibition. Being in the custody of Americans is like this. I fully understand why anyone who knows what it’s like inside would decide to shoot their way out.
2
@Jason
We have never housed toddlers or asylum seekers in county jails,.. until Trump
5
@Carlos Netanyu juvenile detention is often worse and toddlers are placed there regularly.
@Jason
That is just not true. As a trained psychologist, I have visited Juvenile detention centers in several states and have never seen one that did not have hot meals, showers, and on site medical care 24/7. Not a single toddler, either.
The conditions these people are living in are terrible but they wouldn’t exist if we had a sound immigration policy in effect. We are a nation of immigrants but the world we live in today is not the same as it was when masses came here in the late 1800s to the early 1900s. I was told by my mother that when her parents came here in 1891 that eventhough she came from a family of 9 kids that my Grandmother took care of other new immigrants. You rarely hear that now.. Now it is the US government, effectively the tax payer.
The world is very competitive now so why not an immigration policy that brings in people that we actually need to stay competitive whether it be high tech or farm workers? No wall
should be built and not everybody should just be allowed in just because. I don’t believe in “make America Great Again”’but do believe in “Make America Great”
10
Jennifer Costello, "Acting" Inspector General, sends this report to Kevin McAleenan, "Acting" Secretary Homeland Security.
This Administration three years in, and both of these positions are filled by temps. Beyond comprehension, that the President and his cronies are unable to fill these critical positions with permanent individuals.
Absolute disgrace.
11
The last time the country experienced such shock and horror was when it learned Americans were torturing prisoners at Abu Ghraib under the previous Republican administration. We now know half of the country supports torture.
Under this latest Republican administration we are shocked to learn of the abhorrent acts and conditions being used to keep non-white people out of this country.
In both cases, the blatant attempts to hide these acts from others means they know what they are doing is wrong.
This is the Republican Party.
10
@RonR: In 2006, a newly-elected Democratic Speaker of the House had an opportunity to investigate, prosecute, convict, and punish those who were responsible for the US war crimes committed during the illegal 2003 Iraq invasion.
That Speaker chose to do absolutely nothing.
If a cop watches a robbery, and calmly stands by as the perpetrators stroll out of the bank and down the street with money-bags in hand while victims lie on the floor in the bank then what do we say about that cop?
The perpetrators were Republicans. Their enablers were Democrats.
1
It is so disheartening to be a a pre-fourth of July outing and listen to Trump supporters literally make fun of and disparage migrants stuck on the border. Caging children, drinking water from toilets, drowning in the Rio Grande are all OK with this group---I had to leave early--I feel like a foreigner in my own country.
378
@Reddway
If Reddway's response was like the other Trump supporters' comments Amanda Jones heard from I can see why she left early.
41
@Reddway so sad that you choose not to believe the truth about conditions even when shown photos.
33
@Reddway
"There are none so blind as those who will not see."
33
If you think this is bad, wait till the climate catastrophe kicks in full blast and we see billions of climate refugees worldwide displaced by its devastation. The oil wars were bad enough but just wait for the water wars. Soon enough the Middle East will be so hot it will be uninhabitable for humans to live there.
8
Herding human beings in to cages and corrals for the 'crime' of seeking asylum is a human rights violation. How many countries around the world would do such a thing? Very few.
When is the UN going to speak out against this behavior? It's a cinch that our nation's government won't. America once stood out against such behavior, now we condone it. Tired of winning yet?
6
Fake asylum seekers need to go home. Economic migrants are not qualified to seek asylum.
The New York Times article focuses on “vile, crude comments” made on social media by some CPB personnel. But it omits a Department of Homeland Security response incorporated in the IG report that says: “Border Patrol agents have saved thousands of lives—people overcome by the elements — including people found suffering from dehydration, heat stroke, hypothermia, drowning, injuries, and left for dead by smugglers in some of the most remote areas of our border as they enter the country illegally. For instance, agents have rescued over 3,400 people so far since October 1, 2018 and hazardous water rescues are up nearly 400 percent over the previous fiscal year.”
9
It's hard to understand the writer of this post. Okay, CPB has saved people. That's their job. That's what they're trained to do. That's what we pay them for. Goodie. But they're not supposed to lock kids in cages. They're not supposed to deny basic human decency. Do you get it?
5
Overcrowding and inadequate facilities lead to poor hygienic conditions and high risk for disease and illness. We all know this. The CBP and DHS both know this.
@Observer
So maybe we should make a public statement that the CPB will no longer serve a lifesaving group role and instead will focus on border protection. I support that change.
In other news: "An ICE spokesman also said on Tuesday that the agency was issuing fines of hundreds of thousands of dollars to unauthorized immigrants who refused to comply with deportation orders." I'm confused, why would you issue fines to people that you know cannot legally work?
3
where were you guys while the congress sat idle and this problem grew, unattended by lawmakers, unappealing to the trolls in the ratings caves, while this "non-crisis" finally became a crises.
blame trump if it makes you feel better but, guaranteed, it won't help anyone in a holding pen.
what we'll be left with after trump goes, long after he goes, is the culture of complaint that has replaced the "can do" culture that got us through the world wars.
how about the nyt leading a berlin-style "airlift" and showing up at the border with whatever it takes to help feed, heal and shelter those who have chosen to challenge it.
2
Food and necessities were donated. They government turned them down.
2
Many people are offended when you compare Trump and his followers to the Nazis or when you talk about the mental health of Trump . But they are not offended , at least to the same degree , by the images coming from these camps . Granted that they are not extermination camps like the Nazi camps were . Nevertheless they are concentration camps with inhuman conditions . Yes my friends , it can happen here .
13
Is America Great Again yet?
10
Footnote to the Govt Report:
"we have made no attemt to document or compare the conditions in Border Security Detainment Facilities with similar squalid detainment facilities in Guatamala, El Salvador, Honduras....nor even in Chiapas, Mexico."
2
One wonders about The Donald's interest with the homeless in US cities and if the CBP's immigrant situation will translate to them. Certainly not because they are, after all, US citizens ... if only they could prove it.
1
Oh. That was in the news two days ago. He said people going to work shouldn't have to walk past homeless people because it's so very uncomfortable. Then he blamed liberals. There, fixed.
1
I have done volunteer work all over the world in places where there is no running worker or showers. And who was expecting a running cafeteria with hot meals, fruits and vegetables every day? They don’t even have that where they came from or in Harlem where I work now. They need to send them all home and shut down the border immediately. Those resources are desperately needed right here for our poor for the elderly and those displaced by the cheap labor flowing over the border. Charity starts at home.
9
@Allright
"And who was expecting a running cafeteria with hot meals, fruits and vegetables every day?"
Every single human being who is detained by the US government anywhere including federal prison.
7
I guess it's allright to blame the victim.
3
Can ICF help these kids because it is apparent the Trump administration will not.
2
This is an evil political tactic being used to get a democratic congress to change the law to one Trump favors. Again, this has Reichsmarshall Miller's writing all over it.
9
Let's ask Ivanka what to do at the border, she seems to know everything.
7
It's about time the media started calling this what it is: a Holocaust. We're targeting a group of people for internment in concentration camps, where they are tortured, starved, and killed. I'm ashamed of this country.
7
Last summer, when it was first reported that children were being separated from their parents, there were protests held across the country. We need to take a page from Hong Kong and France (minus the violence) to stand up against this administration and it’s sycophants.
NYT - how about an article naming the companies that are profiting from this catastrophe.
8
Who are the grifters in this administration that are benefiting from these for-profit operations of torture? We know who is giving orders and carrying out orders, but who is profiteering off human misery? Please NYT, dig deeper and name names.
9
Turkey, a pretty poor country compared to us, has dealt with millions of Syrian refugees in an infinitely more humanitarian way. Please print a story about that again with all sorts of pictures from camps.
Maybe we will be ashamed, including the GOP and Trump voters.
4
i agree, but do you think they would care? They have no shame.
1
He allocates millions in funds for his dictator-style Independence Day parade but doesn't care that immigrants don't have sanitary facilities.
11
Congratulations, Republicans. This is on you.
5
I'm 63 years old, and this WAS NEVER the America I grew up in, until now.
What is going on with this Government?
Why were there no Republican Congressmen or Senators in that Congressional contingent?
What is wrong with Melania the First Lady, doesn't this fit into Be Best Campaign?
Ivanka is a spokesperson for Woman's rights, yeah only if it helps fill her bank account; what a disgusting family the Trump's are, and the Pence's....the Christian self-righteous phonies.
The Trump administration has brought this country down into the worst of the worst in my lifetime, we used to stand for something; but under Donald Trump it's almost like he wants to turn back the clock to the days of segregation, blatant racism, turning this country into his own version of Nazi Germany, in staying true to his roots.
11
You expressed my feelings exactly. I'm just glad my parents are not around to see the country they fought for and sacrificed for being turned into exactly what they fought against!
5
@Rick
This isn't your father's republican party. This Republican party throws paper towels at American hurricane victims and refuses to send them aid.
1
Rick There has never been the open borders in the way the racist Donald Trump describes them , he is a lying demagogue that unfortunately plays to you and your fathers racist
xenophobia.
Fortunate for me, my father who served in WWII and my Uncle who was among one of the first tank divisions which was part of the liberation of the first concentration camps, taught me different.
Donald Trump and his family are disgusting excuses for human beings and disgrace to this country and everything it has ever stood for...…...GET IT!
Meanwhile, Trump is spending four million dollars so he can have Sherman and Abrahams tanks at his parade. Surely, he should cancel this wasteful display immediately and divert this money for emergency assistance to these immigrants.
And what of our GOP leadership? They are complicit by being silent. Shame, shame on them.
5
But but but Obama. But but but Hillary. Here we go again.
2
Right up there with Michelle Obama staying behind in the UK to shop. We (taxpayers) paid for an empty 757 to go to London and pick her up. Cost? Probably around $550,000, but why not?
1
Today, this "base-building" is done in the United States of America. Children, adults, infants, breathing or not, they are all fodder for the Trump 2020 machine. Tomorrow, who will be the targets useful in preventing further deterioration of support for Trump?
This is pure evil. What are we doing to our country? What are now capable of doing to ourselves?
3
A lot of emotional outrage here. Maybe justified too. Only have the story reported here to consider. However we know from earlier articles in the NYT that these migrants/illegals or whatever one wants to call them are primarily coming for economic reasons. They have been let down by their own governments who have begun to admit their own culpability in the disaster. These poor people were not invited to come to the US but we still have a responsibility to treat them humanely once they get here.
BUT, let me ask all the complainers...have you made any contributions to organizations helping these poor folks? Maybe a check to Catholic Relief Services or similar organizations? OR have you just averted your face as though they are just like any poor beggar on the street or subway. The government can do a lot but not everything that’s needed. Maybe time for the outraged class to get a little more skin in the game.
5
Buck, you can't donate to help. They are not allowing any donations.
1
I’m so ashamed and disgusted by this.
The Trump Administration cares nothing for human rights or dignity. Just enough pandering and showmanship to satisfy and distract his base from their abuses of power.
I’m so grateful he was not president when my parents who immigrated, fleeing violent conflict in their home country, came to the US.
2
How cruel does do you have to be to treat people this way just to satisfy your political base. I hope Ann Coulter is worth it!
1
Shameful, just shameful. Fire Trump & everyone in his Administration.
2
Where is Melania and her be best program? Border too dirty for her?
4
@Vivien Hessel
You bring up a point that I've wondered about also.
However, being one's best photo shoots don't look too hot with the crowded and unsuitable conditions all these children are facing in detention centers.
Plus, she IS married to Trump.
Who are these people who direct this system? Who are these people who execute these orders? Who are these people who can look another human being in the eye and dismiss them as trash not worthy of life? They are not us. 75 years ago we liberated people from this kind of treatment. Are we now to believe that we have become that which we fought against? There are many causes for the wave of migrants at the border. If we choose to do so, we can do many humane Christian things to alleviate this situation. But what is happening now I pray is not representative of who we might have become since WWII.
5
We are paying no-bid private contractor $750 a day for each child in custody. Maybe John Kelly, now on the board of one of these despicable outfits, can tell us just how that money is being spent. How does that saying go---special place in hell.
8
Hilary Clinton's use of the term deplorable has become prophetic. “You know, to just be grossly generalistic, you could put half of Trump’s supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables. Right? The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic—you name it. And unfortunately there are people like that. And he has lifted them up.”
As a result, we have citizens who no longer recognize human rights violations occurring in their own country.
We have for-profit detention centers, empowered by the US Government, hiring employees who feel emboldened to abuse the people they are paid to serve and protect.
Congressional Republicans totally own this debacle by unflinchingly backing President Trump and his inhumane border policies.
Will it become necessary for the good citizens of America to challenge their own government to demand reason and justice?
8
Well, now at least the agency is recognizing there is a problem with the detention facilities. How will KellyAnne spin the evidence contained in the report.
Interesting the allegation that some detainees have attempted to escape during cage maintenance. Any human would attempt to escape from those conditions.
I am not advocating "open borders" as the conservatives on Fox "News" bleat and bray, but, now we see the reason for "catch and release", as the grifter from Queens states it.
But, with the bigot Miller as the White House guru on all things racial and (and possibly white purity) we will continue to see human rights abuses by this toxic and septic administration.
3
So when are we taking to the streets en masse? Let’s learn from Hong Kong. With a president stockpiling humans in warehouses while he arranged a parade of military might, what are we the people doing? It’s past time for disruptive, uncomfortable protesting all the way up to the windows of the White House. This is outrageous!
6
I’m sorry, but nyt this has been known for a year. Every single DHS hearing of several hours has been discussing the overflow and lack of resources. The head of dhs has been begging for money for a year while the Democrats refuses to hand any over. He said point black that they are so overwhelmed that his officers were mixing baby formula. None of this is new. The whole system needs overhaul. We simply cannot let everyone that comes to the border in without fully looking into who they are and if these are actually their children. Immigration needs to be properly funded so this cannot happen we should not be randomly letting people in, but we certainly cannot be having these conditions. Everyone will need full medical checks and vaccines. They will need to be quarantined if they are sick. This will cost a TON of money. Just please stop fighting and fix this. It’s not ok for the USA to treat people like they are on a busted airline sitting in small seats for weeks. However we simply under no circumstances can we take every caravan trying to come to the us. If a border wall organizes itself to point to areas where asylum seekers can turn themselves in then build a wall. It will require less man power at the border so we can put that manpower into helping the detention centers be something positive.
6
Does anyone have an alternate solution? all I see are comments to lock people up, and we should be ashamed... but everyone here is complicate
1
Rather than inviting the heads and administrators if these agencies that are charged with the care of asylum seekers, let's invite them to spend at least 72 hours in the worst of the facilities they claim are clean and appropriate for children and adults, under the same actual conditions as the people being held there for even longer periods of time. Leaders should always be ready to inspect and experience the facilities over which they have responsibility.
5
So, big surprise, the administration has been lying when it states that these conditions were only limited to a few facilities- and that money to build more facilities will continue to create more misery, not alleviate the problem.
3
"Open contempt for the rule of law and for basic human decency," describes the current administration in a nutshell, and its enablers in the Republican Party. This group is not going off the rails, it is paving a way toward a future that would apply these standards to all who do not toe their line.
3
The problem is caused by the Central American countries who encourage their poor to leave to get rid of potential flash points. They are the problem not the people who leave countries with no services , law or security. I don't know the answer but unless the people do not want to leave they will continue. And the more we take in the more will come.
4
Of course you are right. But we have a problem right here that needs to be dealt with right now. Then we can debate what can be done about the root of the problem.
1
The conditions, facilities, employees, and protocols are the exact same as the Obama Administration. The only difference is we have more caravans & people coming (because left wing organizations are encouraging it & helping). Organizing people to take this journey for a political cause just shows the left doesn’t care about the well-being of people. They just want their story to be outraged at a political target.
7
You just wrong. There are more people coming because The President and his cabal on the Right have given the impression that America is closed. I believe DT said, "were full". So many people in Central America got the idea it's now or never. How do you explain that under Obama the number of immigrants entering was decreasing. And under Trump it's increasing! Maybe Trump should have kept his big mouth shut your instead of using the issue as a campaign strategy specifically designed to gin up hatred.
And I remind you that Republicans held the House, the Senate and the Presidency for TWO YEARS. And passed no meaningful legislation regarding immigration. The one thing I find today's Republican party is good at is blaming others for everything that's wrong with world.
4
As usual, follow the money. It goes in and profits come out. People suffer.
4
Welcome to America with twenty-first century hatred of the other with a good twist of twentieth-century concentration camps. This is just the nationalism and fear trump and the Republicans crave.
Some blame here should go to our Legislature. These fearless lifelong Representatives have for decades failed to write meaningful or any legislation in regard to immigration and have withdrawn from several tasks, such as the declaration of war and DACA. Part of this problem is that the Representatives refuse to work across the aisle to do the people's business. Of course, the Republicans have honed this to a fine point.
1
How is it trump has no trouble stepping over a border toward a despotic country, and he won’t allow others to step over toward freedom?
5
All of the issue can go away only if congress acts! But we all know that congress feeds off the issue and pockets the donations from the issue.
I
2
That's the same type of fencing I have around my dogs' yard to protect them from predators. It's held up to 4 dogs at a time and they've never had to sleep there.
1
"Demanding answers"? Here's one, why did you delay funding? Playing politics with peoples lives and well being. This is a bipartisan problem that won't be solved by pointing fingers. Our leadership in all three branches are failing us.
6
The ball is in Congress’ court now. They’re the ones with the power to change this.
1
"The report fueled Democratic lawmakers’ resolve to press for answers from the Customs and Border Protection agency even as they continued to fight among themselves over an emergency spending bill that passed last week without the strict conditions that liberals and Hispanic members had demanded. "
The hypocrisy on part of the Democratic lawmakers is stunning. Pass the emergency spending bill, with more money for enforcement (so people do not end up in this circumstances) , and continue your fight for open borders on another front. Come on, grow up. Hope all that will respond to this message with vitriol have a great 4th!
2
Wish there will be a smart person in the government that can tackle this all ways, from finding a way to take care of the basic needs of human beings to enforcing the law as needed ( even if it implies remove and return )
But there is nobody.
And similarly to our mistakes of the past, some of these children ( like the children from the Irak war or Afghanistan ) will remember us as the ones that treat them badly, separate or even kill their parents or gave them suffering instead of happiness. A simple cup of ice cream may suffice ( like Ellis Island ) but not even that seems possible. :(
Just take a minute, hold your nose, and look at the Breitbart website. If you want to see why (rather than simply how) our country is divided, look no further. Their 'newspaper' has no article that covers this crisis in this way; but they have several articles up (as I'm writing this) that criticize liberal politicians, musicians, and others who are helping the immigrants. The comments section there, as you can imagine is vile. It is not just that we live in different worlds. Breitbart and Fox (and other Republican sites) are creating their own world filled with ignorance and hatred, tailored to what they think their customers want. If we want to stop this crisis we need to VOTE but, besides that, find a way to reach those readers with the truth, and find a way to convince them their hatred is wrong. I'm not sure that's possible.
6
@JS27
Yes. And their world is marked “ made in Russia”.
2
Now this is something to think about as we celebrate our nation’s independence. How low and quickly we have fallen.
This is just bizarre and uncalled-for. I know CBP employees have to put food on their tables but the recession is over-they have the ability to walk away from this cruel and unusual scenario and find less heinous employment. I can’t imagine sitting idly by cashing paychecks while treating others like that.
1
And privately contracted prisons and detention centers are a thing? Unbelievable! Have we lost the ability to reason? Looks that way.
On what planet does privatizing prisons make sense? What’s next? Private military?
3
I have seen many complaints about the conditions (including my own) but I have also seen no solutions offered by anyone. The only "solution" seems to be to have open borders.
We can build better facilities, but how does that solve the problem?
People who are complaining: What's the solution?
6
These people are seeking asylum because they fear for their lives in the own countries. What if we took the considerable amount of tax-payer dollars we are using to imprison them in squalid conditions and used it to help make their home countries safe?
I am ashamed and horrified by what we are doing to fellow human beings at our southern border. An international human rights organization needs to investigate. An international court needs to charge the US with crimes against humanity.
2
@ Travelers: You already nailed it... open borders is the "solution" to these folks.
2
@Midwestern Gal
I don't see your solution. We intervene in foreign countries? With our armed services?
Be specific. What does "help make their home countries safe" mean?
What I get from this response is what I just said: Nobody has a solution. Except open borders, and that will never be accepted by anyone except far leftists.
So, children will suffer. Because no one is creative enough to solve the problem. Including me. I'm at a loss, too.
1
Why the US hasn't build -permanent + adequate- massive facilities at the border in order to attend a permanent and growing problem. Asylum seekers won't disappear so let's handle this process without improvisation and inadequacy. It is imperative to humanize the actual system; specially since we have the knowledge, social backing and the resources.
9
If a pregnant woman has a miscarriage due to conditions in the concentration camps can Trump be charged with murder?
47
@Kieran
Why would a pregnant woman willingly cross the border and put her own child in danger?
5
@Kieran---cheap rhetorical strawman.
5
@Kieran At present he should be charged with human rights abuses.
1
The level of incompetence displayed by the people in charge of this mess is simply mind boggling.
18
@Cheryl. This is willful violence with administrative orchestration and blessing. These asylum seekers are the new figgers...perceived as powerless objects for abuse. The Southern Border is a new Inner City.
1
The U.S. under Trump and McConnell has in two years become a land if moral indiverence and outright hate for people who come here only want a better life, a life free from oppression and violence, sound like your ancestors?
BUT let's look at what is important, we will have Tanks on parade for the Fourth of July!
How fitting that Trump is emulating his Dictator friends to flex his muscles.
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses,”. The words poet Emma Lazarus wrote in 1883. We have always been a beacon of hope for all people's yearning to be free, perhaps those days are truly gone!
22
@Bruce--read the signs in 1850--"No Irish Apply".
Our beacon of hope is more aspirational at best and mythical at worst. History shows that these days rarely existed for the immigrants but only their children.
Ultimately, your comment ignores the very fact that the entry of many of these immigrants is probably unlawful.
Your comment is more self-serving to make some cheap political point.
My ancestors came her legally. These people are criminals. Big difference.
1
Why aren't all of us in the streets today demanding change? Why do I have to see pictures of a smug Ivanka Trump playing at being a diplomat in Korea while poor and desperate people are locked in cages?
22
Good questions! Ask your representative and senators!
1
How soon liberals forget the obvious truth here: President Trump and Republicans warned for his whole term about the CRISIS on our southern border. Democrats steadfastly denied the truth.
15
@Micoz Hogwash. Trump/Miller/Nielsen created the crisis on that border with their policies. It is also apparent that more learned (I hate to say it but G.W. Bush is more learned) presidents had somewhat better control of the border situation given illegal migration was not as yuuuuuuge.
1
@Micoz-
Seriously, you are laying the blame on the democrats?!?
Trump has fueled this disaster with his fear based angry shouting and the GOP has happily gone along with him. This is not a worry or concern for this morally vacant man you called your President. Up until 7 months ago the President had the House and the Senate and they did NOTHING to help this situation.
Wake up. In case you hadn't noticed the whole country and planet are in crisis thanks to the GOP and T-rump.
3
Except the whole crisis is manufactured by the Trump administration. Immigration numbers are no higher than they were during Obama‘s term.
2
...and today, Texans and proud Americans across the country will celebrate... freedom.
6
If people are being given baby wipes instead of shower, I wonder if anyone in charge has thought about supplies for menstruation. Probably not. We should be ashamed on the day before the 4th of July.
15
From amidst the unceasing flow of immigrant/immigration stories, where is the national immigration plan and priorities? Anyone know a top five list? The U.S. government has five programs/policies to control illegal immigration and they are: ??? The budget and personnel devoted to each is and are? So far they have achieved?
On the other hand, the Democrats advocate these five: ?
The Republican program aims to reduce the inflow by this amount? and this date? The Democrats aim to reduce the inflow by ???
Squalid, crowded, underfunded, understaffed, .... Steve King and Donald Trump said....
The circus moved from Madison Square Garden to Homeland Security is all I can tell.
5
These people are gaming the asylum laws.
Losing issue for Democrats.
23
@Jane Over the years there were attempts to revise immigration and asylum laws. Guess who stonewalled any attempt.
Second, the GOP was in charge for most of Obama's two terms. Odd that the GOP failed to take any action.
Third, Trump and his racist sidekick Miller were the authors of the policies that caused asylum seekers to "game the system".
Put blame where it belongs.
How sad that you view this as a win /lose political issue. That’s all you could think about?
1
The $92 million expenditure of taxpayer dollars on Don the Con's 4th of July photo/video op is a horrific waste of money that should be used to buy toothpaste, beds, port-a-potties, and medical care for immigrants.
Trump is a callous grifter with no moral compass other than his personal self-gratification. What a joke of an administration.
Middle-class taxes are higher after the 14 % tax cut for the very wealthy. Our children breath more pollutants. Everything will cost more due to a non-existent trade policy. Science, the heart and soul of global leadership and growth for the USA, takes a back seat to nonsense and moroninc posturing. Our allies cannot trust us anymore. Trump pats global bullies on the back, hoping their tyrannic mojo will rub off on him. A long time mysogynist and tax cheat, he is leading the GOP to nowhere good.
Is Trump behaving so callously in order to stir up his base? Is his so-called "base" as callous as well?
16
@Leslie Duvall
Is that a serious question?
Any other president would be impeached for this.
Not only for doing this but for doing it with relish, doubling down on it while claiming he isn't really doing it and it's all Obama's fault anyway, Obama is the one who did it.
Any other president would be on trial in the Senate right now and facing removal from office for child abuse and crimes against humanity.
What is happening to us?
10
I wonder what the pro-life gang thinks about this, I don't see them protesting to protect the lives of these children.
19
This is what comes of an Administration with a reckless, egomaniac at its helm. He knows no other way to govern but absolutes. "Lock Her Up, Build that Wall, Zero Tolerance, Tariffs, Fly Overs and Tanks." what we get is chaos in every aspect of Trump's inability to govern. There was and is no immigration policy other than, "Separate and Deport." Trump has turned immigration into a humanitarian crisis as he does with all of his non-policies. On immigration alone, this Administration should be booted to the curb. The deliberate inhumane treatment of men, women and worst of all, children is criminal.
8
THE CRUELTY IS THE POINT.
These economic migrants have no right to be in this country. The problem is we allow this whole process to shlep on for ages. There should be a 72 hour max turnaround time from entry to deportation. We need a super strict definition of who is eligible for asylum, and no living in a tough neighborhood, or even domestic abuse, does not count. You re-enter the country following deportation? We charge you with a felony. The United States is not the world's homeless shelter!
21
When animal groups find poor conditions for animals something is done and places are closed down.
Our country’s leaders are doing less for human beings than what is being done for animals, and we taxpayers are paying out more than $700 per day per person for doing this harm. Hostages, all of us, by this horrendous administration!
10
This is a problem not just of a "rogue agency," but of a rogue presidency. I hope Congress can actually accomplish some oversight here, including dragging the vile Stephen Miller into their chambers to testify.
8
The “president’s” willful ignorance of human rights in this crisis has led him to use inhumane acts of cruelty towards children as a means of shoring up His despicable base. To allow abuse and neglect of children, anybody’s children, proves to me that at this point in time, American exceptionalism alludes to our meanest instincts towards human beings that don’t look like the race that remains sadly, so dominant in our political system.
4
The GOP has starved the budgets of our nations agencies for years. Now with our current president we no longer have experts, we have acting lackies as our leaders.
Is it surprising nothing seems to work anymore?
For all the GOP Ayn Randians that gleefully starved our countries agencies with their never been successful economic policy, did you forget how Atlas Shrugged ends? You’re watching your policies create that failure now. Again.
5
The reason for this mess at the detention facilities is Trump's policy of making detention of asylum seekers so harsh that they will give up and leave the USA. His proposed solution? Amend the immigration law to require migrants seeking asylum to apply outside the USA, thereby weeding out all those who don't have sufficient proof in hand of persecution in their home country. This approach is perceived by Trump/GOP as a winning strategy. It is red meat for Trump's base because its punishes lots of brown-skinned asylum seeks and keeps them from reaching American streets. He is harming children and adults and denying them their legal protections for political advantage.
3
Anyone who has visited the museum at Ellis Island should contrast the treatment given those arrivals with the current ones. The government contracted to provide hot meals to everyone and ice cream for the kids. Am I to believe we have less resources now than in 1920?
9
@Rob Chapman. Ellis Island were legal immigrants, not illegal aliens with no claim for asylum.
1
@Rob Chapman
We don’t have less resources than 1920
We have way less humanity in 2019
@Jonathan Actually many of these people are presenting and asking for asylum legally at border entry points Perhaps you should read about the asylum process and educate yourself.
As a moral imperative, every article that criticizes conditions at the border should offer a solution to stem the rising tide of families who are illegally entering the country.
22
@Robert
Return asylum law to what it was originally which means there is no asylum for gang and domestic violence.
Increase the burden of proof at the border and staff up so immigrants can be processed faster to be admitted or returned.
It is good that Mexico agreed to the MPP plan and Democrats should be supporting it.
2
Maybe the so-called refugees should stay home? They certainly know what they’re potentially getting into upon arrival. I’ve never seen people beg for admission to such allegedly torturous conditions. If you don’t want to work thru the illegal admission process, don’t come here.
21
Imagine how bad things must be at home for them to risk this.
10
Maybe there are other things you have not seen either. For example, the conditions that the migrants are fleeing from.
2
You do realize that in the scenario you’re setting up, whatever they’re escaping must be much worse than this inevitability?
When the cruelty of those detained at the border is not a result of ignorant negligence, but is actually an intentional measure of policy - as a deterrent to crossing the southern border, crimes against humanity must be charged.
9
Blame the President. The system had been set up to only detain criminals and unaccompanied kids. Those kids were released to foster homes or to relatives until their cases were adjudicated. Trump criminalized anyone caught entering the country. Many wanted to seek sanctuary but were denied that as well. The separation of children from their parents violates all the laws of human decency. I'm sure Trump's advisers told him that the system was not designed to humanely care for the number who would be incarcerated but he couldn't care less.
10
Remind me again, this is the United States of America, right?
Reading this article and looking at the images, who would have known this could, and is happening in this country.
Are we a proud nation anymore?
7
Our border should be to control who comes and goes. Not warehouse people. Changing our asylum laws has to be part of any immigration reform. The laws were written before the world was awash in tens of millions of people looking for new lives. Individuals and families should be immediately repatriated to their home countries and a process to apply from there instead adopted. Turning them loose in the US is also completely unacceptable. We need to make sure the word gets out that just turning up at the border is not going to get you into the country and in fact will bar you from any chance of being admitted. Our out of date laws need to reflect the reality of the 21st century and the limits of American generosity.
18
I don't know what to call this except an atrocity. What can ordinary citizens do to stop it?
11
We have lost all moral authority to criticize other countries' human rights violations.
18
This treatment of the poorest of the poor is wicked. Certainly the greatest country on earth is smart enough and wealthy enough to handle this crisis at our southern border. But we lack the leadership needed to address these problems. I see a total lack of morality and human decency all the way to the president.
411
Cruise ships could be used to distribute the refugees in South America, similar to the quota relocations in the EU.
20
@Kristi
"This treatment of the poorest of the poor is wicked"
I think this is what was planned in the first place.
Make conditions so miserable, others wont want to come here.
Steven Miller and his like-minded ghouls in the administration must be pleased.
40
@Kristi It is the greatest country when there is strict adherence to moral and ethical leadership and the equal application of laws. Otherwise, it just propaganda.
5
The most humane thing at this point would be to give the migrants each and every opportunity to leave, and along with that, to make their current prospects as clear to them as possible. I would hope that border patrol officers stop by regularly and tell the migrants that they can leave anytime they like, and that they will be accompanied to the border, with the understanding that any future application for asylum will be rejected, and any other attempt to enter the US will result in incarceration. It should also be made clear that neither their current conditions nor the wait time for asylum is likely to change. It is their choice to stay or leave, and making that choice clear is the only thing the US owes them.
12
Our taxpayer money is paying out $700 per day, per person being detained?
Only Donald Trump could be that corrupt!
11
I don't care how you feel about the immigration issue, this is not how we treat human beings, not even our own on death row are treated this badly. Shame on us.
20
I wondered why in the world the dictators et al of this country didn't care about this (besides being amoral). Now, we know.
The amoral enablers and dictators consider the atrocities committed feed their base. They like the killings or murders as Tucker Carlson said. You have to have killings when running a gov't like this (close enough). So they are killing and murdering minimally starting with Puerto Rico (I knew that was happening immediately) and it continues. The base loves it.
And, taxpayers are again paying for this and "they" claimed they need more money. No, they don't since the owners of the camps aren't doing anything.
I pose the question to all since this is the way this dictator is operating which group will be next? Will it be seniors sent off to death camps (they're no longer concentration camps because they're allowing killing by this government to occur by inhumane treatment). Will it be the LGBTQ? Will it be the poor being sent to their deaths? We don't know but we knoww it's going to happen.
4
Next up will be the homeless because Trump doesn't want to be embarrassed or annoyed by their presence and in fact a significant majority of the country agrees with him - even so called liberals. Keep in mind that Trump was elected to implement exactly these kinds of policies ,ie, that demonize and discriminate against blacks, browns, and the weak or poor of any race or ethnic background while simultaneously lining the pockets of the so called Maker class by dipping into the the public treasure . My point: don't just blame Trump - at least 60 million (and probably more) of your fellow citizens agree with and support him. Just food for thought for all of you oh so moderate Dems who think we will get consensus through someone like Biden or Mayor Pete etc.
This is what happens when all safety nets, preventative programs, and social services are dismantled at the border. Trump had to either look strong towards his “base” or was to ignorant to understand the system in place.
Let us not forget that when Trump’s family came in to this country there were no restrictions on immigration.
Nobody is superior in the eyes of the Creator.
10
The Democrats need to tread very carefully with the immigration issue. These conditions are deplorable and should be rightly called out and change should be advocated for with everything the party has. However, after watching the first debate(s), the eventual nominee is well on their way to losing to Trump if they cannot balance this position, and a position for opening up to greater avenues of legal immigration, with some semblance of law and order. While we should treat all illegal immigrants and asylum seekers we detain with dignity and respect, and end horrible policies such as family separations, and not treat them like violent criminals - illegal immigrants should be detained and vetted in some fashion. My own personal position is anyone who wants in should get in and free movement of labor and capital should be a hallmark of any capitalist democracy, but that’s not going to win the election. Democrats should take heed to balance themselves on this issue and not let Trump and the GOP paint them (incorrectly is some cases, accurately in far fewer but some others) as the party for open borders and soft on crime and law enforcement. Kamala Harris might be a great nominee or VP because she can tact the party back to the middle on law and order given her record and take that issue away from Trump in the general election. If the untra left can only be sane enough to understand that ideological purity has no place in an election where there is a greater evil to defeat.
12
Follow the money.
8
I think the Democrats should quit blocking border security measures, build the wall, and get rid of this terrible humanitarian problem NOW.
18
@Edward Manring
So Ed should we put a wall in the middle of the Rio Grande? On land they will still make it to US soil.
The other side of the coin is that these individuals are placing themselves in that situation forcing their way through the border and manipulating our tax payers's sensitivity and compassion. Immigration has changed in this country. Legal and illegal immigrants forcing their way through the borders with demands they are not entitled to only want to take advantage of this country, not make any contributions or support the ideal of freedom and opportunities for all. They only want to make money to send back to their country of origin. The worst part is that they hate Americans and want to make us look bad with their drama. They need to face up to the problems in their own countries and improve their situation instead of forcing their way in for an easy way out instead of working hard to make their countries great. Again, even legal immigrants now hate Americans and only come here to make money not to make any contributions or reinvest in our ideals. That's why this country is in decline morally.
18
What an ignorant and selfish response to this obscene display of cruelty. If it was your family living in poverty and constant violence, you would try to do the same thing and most likely not survive. Very easy to criticize from the comfort of your bed, huh?
3
@Art in Georgia, Somehow I find it hard to believe you really KNOW even one illegal immigrant, on which you base your statements. Or perhaps you are simply projecting your personal thoughts on how you would react if treated the way our country apparently treats so many in this sad moment of its history.
3
Out in the streets! Millions out in the streets! Protest as if your life depended on it, and your honor. Children in cages, dirty, hungry , terrified : is this not worth demonstrating over?
Out in the streets !
18
@Alexandra
Americans don’t do that. They just complain.
2
Thousands of migrant children are unaccounted for. Are they still alive?
10
Trump and his entire administration should be arrested by Interpol and charged with crimes against humanity. This is absolutely deplorable. Where is the Red Cross? Where is the Vatican? Most of all, where is the United States government and Congress? How can we as decent people sit back and allow this slow, deliberate murder of innocent people take place? We learned nothing from World War II or from the tragedy of Bosnia. We are just as evil, and just as complicit. On this Independence Day, I’m embarrassed to call myself an American.
14
The owners of these private detention centers are really cashing in. Let's pull that thread.
20
The inhumanity of these conditions is horrific and yet not solely a problem in the US. Watch the documentary "Human Flow" and you will see these same type of conditions (some even worse if you can imagine) in many countries where migration has become a political firestorm. Beyond the immediate incarceration of these poor people, it delves into the long-term trauma and maladjustment that will come from this type of treatment later in life, especially for children. I agree with others who say we need to close the borders now, Congress and our president need to come to an immediate resolution to stop this from happening to any more human beings. CBP or the agencies contracted to inflict this treatment need to be held accountable; fined and even jailed for the criminal activity they are propagating with the management of these centers.
3
Are any of these people held against their will? Can not they leave voluntarily and return to Central America and Mexico?
25
Of coarse they can. We have to remember that the populations of the Central American countries have risen by 4-6 x since the 50s with no increase in their economies to match them. Combined with droughts, drug wars, corruption and poor farming practices the US looks like paradise. We can help these people solve their problems at home. We can't accept even a small portion of the 10s of millions who will come here if we allow it. They need to be sent back.
8
If your politics can justify this, then your politics can justify anything. ANYTHING.
22
Do these conditions actually surprise anyone? They are inhumane, terrible, costly and evil. All persons need love, care and kindness. Since our federal government is so inept, why don’t we let faith based organizations intervene and provide services. The American Red Cross, Care International and thousands of churches could help. Where is Angelina Jolie when we need her?
4
This is the government on flat-out so-called "Christian Republicanism."
Cruel.
Indecent.
Immoral.
I have been calling my federal representatives and given money to organizations at the border but nothing helps. I am 56-years old and I have never been so ashamed of my country.
20
The Trump administration's response will be to ban the government watchdog, not the cruel and inhumane shelter conditions.
9
I see a room with people sitting on benches and lying on the floor. I'm not sure what we would have expected a detention center to look like? The Ritz? If this is the worst the government watchdog can find down there, then I think we are doing quite alright. Every single person there came here voluntarily to find a better life, NOT to escape a death camp or religious persecution. There are no surprises here. As long as they are not being tortured or summarily murdered - I'm really OK with it.
16
Do you drink out of your toilet in Bali? Are teenagers put in cages and left to care for toddlers? Do you sleep standing up with 100 other people crammed into a room with a maximum capacity of 42? Are you not allowed to shower or have a change of clothes for a month? You all good with that, eh? #Trump’sAmerika
9
For the children, this IS torture.
@Jeanclaude Bali, who is the "we" to whom you refer?
I remember a certain outfit worn to visit the border detention facility. “I don’t care, do you?” Those words should haunt everyone.
27
The writing was on the wall, I mean jacket.
This administration just commits crimes, legally and morally, in plain sight.
10
Why on earth do the democrats want this? Everyone knows it's because they refuse to amend the immigration laws and want open borders.
21
It is bizarre, though expected, that NYT readers blame Trump for the border situation he worked all his presidency, from day 1 till now, to avoid.
For many months the acting Secretary of Homeland Security came and BEGGED the Democratic House for funds to alleviate the overcrowding, as now 3000 people cross the border illegally every day.
The House Democrats laughed at him, calling it all a MANUFACTURED crisis. They even tried to block him from pushing Mexico to stop the caravans.
So of course there are 10 times more people in the stations than designed. Now, Democratic representatives of the same House visited for a few minutes, and are OUTRAGED, really OUTRAGED, at the overcrowding which they caused by inadequate funding.
Vote them out, next year. We shall then have a wall and a normal immigration policy.
PS Nancy Pelosi realized that the Democrats WILL be voted out on immigration, and passed the $4 billion funding for the next 6 months, over the objections of her radical wing...
But voters are not that easy to fool.
28
Actually, voters are very easy to fool. Both Republicans and Democrats count on it. How do you think we got to where we are today?
1
@novoad. Cruelty to incoming migrants was never a bug Trump tried to avoid. It was a feature he doubled down on expressly for its “deterrence” value.
The child abuse in these articles is unconscionable and repugnant. And should not be allowed. What has America come to? BUT, Americans DO hire illegal immigrants and pay them very low wages to do menial jobs. Americans should all stop supporting businesses that hire illegal alien immigrants. That would vastly reduce the problem.
3
@P_Take but it is so much more than just work and jobs. for decades we have destroyed order in the home countries of these people. the void that remained was filled with very bad things. these people are fleeing for their lives, not to find work. we need to fix what we did to central america and help these people.
4
@P_Take
I do not care what an individual does. It is their crime. This is a crime against humanity and you are a little more guilty than most of us. "The child abuse in these articles is unconscionable and repugnant. And should not be allowed. What has America come to? BUT"
BUT, are you actually thinking that there is something that can excuse unconscionable and repugnant behavior?
2
“We take any and every allegation of misconduct incredibly seriously,” Mr. Perez said on CNN. “And there will be consequences to those who do not adhere to our standards of conduct.”
Oh yeah? Are you going to fire them? I saw Google trending articles on AOC calling out these camps for what they are and detailing the abuse. Meanwhile, what do I see at the bottom of my screen, but an ad for me to apply to work at CBP. So, the group is understaffed, abusing children and families, and has a huge number of employees and former employees who laugh at others' misfortune both in real life (by several accounts) and online in groups. Oh, well, then sign me up! That sounds like a *marvelous* place to work...
2
But Donald will say that he didn't do anything wrong. Just as he continues to be unwilling to acknowledge that he lied about a non - existent injury to avoid service in Vietnam.
We, however, are also guilty of letting him get away with his lies for oh-so many years without having to pay for them. The ones who are paying for them now are poor people, including many, many children, who want only to be free, just as my grandparents wanted freedom when they came to Ellis Island with their children many decades ago.
Donald doesn't understand what a terrible thing he's doing because he's a heartless man.
7
This is what happens when the dehumanizing rhetoric used by Trump and his followers begins reaching its crescendo. The Facebook page is the tip of the iceberg. CBP and ICE are now broken bureaucracies, their fundamental cultures have been corrupted to the point where they need to be abolished and replaced. They hoped that there were enough ways to keep this invisible, they were wrong. Now lets see what that rhetoric has done to the followers of Trump. From what I've seen and heard they're just fine with this. These "illegals" are getting what they deserve. They've literally created a national lynch mob and their targets are people in these centers. I suspect, unfortunately, that these images will bring this mob pleasure and not shame.
9
The outraged mothers here should share their experiences.
A friend of a neighbor comes to you and says, I want to go up the Appalachian trail, with some more truck hitchhiking, to Canada.
But I need a minor child to enter. May I borrow one of yours? I don't really intend to come back, but be assured that your child will be fine...
How many of your children have you given away this way? How many do you plan to lend in the near future?
11
You have completely missed the underlying issue with the immigration debacle.
2
@Kathryn Torre
Not at all. A progressive judge called Gee, reaffirming another progressive judge called Flores, stated that adults accompanied by minor children are to be released inside the US within 20 days.
Against strong objections of the Trump administration.
So a lot of children unrelated to the accompanying adult are coming; many are abandoned afterwards.
One cannot release these children into the wild, to feed themselves.
They are the children that you see, hundreds of them every month. The going rate now is under $100 per borrowed child.
There are videos of children thrown off a building so as to distract the helping border patrol, and while the patrol offers help to the child, the shadier fellows carrying drug bags can pass.
It is mind boggling to see those who care for these children accused of lack of humanity...
3
We have enough migrants already. It is irresponsible to allow people to step over our border looking for a better life where they become our problem. Trump needs to suggest a Western Hemisphere relocation adgenda, like the.program of allotments each Country drew to handle the Syrian refugees displaced by yet another proxy war for Israel. Encourage migrating South! There are 12 Countries in South America that should each be asked to take their share.
19
Syrian refugees were displaced by the Syrian civil war, a popular uprising against the tyrannical rule of the dictator Assad during the “Arab Spring” and the subsequent repression of the revolt by Russian and Iranian forces aligned with Assad.
Foster care in Texas through our Department of Human Services would be a great start to helping the problem of inhumane treatment of the children of migrants. Additionally, allowing faith based organizations to provide services would be a huge help!
Thus removing them from their families forever, right? No thanks.
6
We are training a future army of enemies. These children will grow up with hatred for America in their hearts. The ability to imagine consequences is what is bring down this country.
4