Can this be any more of a mess? Donald Trump’s obsession with immigrants has meant that women with brain tumors, mothers seeking sanctuary in churches, students, and military veterans are all at risk of deportation. Last week, his administration sent a proposal to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to separate children from their parents when they cross the border so as to discourage illegal immigration. And now, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents have detained an Afghan family at the airport in Los Angeles (LAX) and held them in custody for several days.
The father, mother and three small children were granted Special Immigrant Visas because family members risked their lives to defend the U.S. government overseas, said the filing from lawyers with the International Refugee Assistance Project, a legal aid group for refugees and displaced persons.
Once again, this administration and some of its employees show that they have absolutely no sense of right or wrong and no respect for anyone who isn’t a combination of male, wealthy, and white.
“Yet despite this record of service on behalf of our country, CBP has detained this brave family and denied them access to counsel,” said the petition filed on Saturday with the U.S. District Court Central District of California, referring to Customs and Border Protection.
What kind of disgusting backstabbing is this? Work for us and put your life at risk, then we’ll tell you that we will allow you to come to the U.S. on a visa, only to stop you and your wife and little ones at the airport. And detain you—indefinitely.
“The betrayal of this family by the U.S. government shocks the conscience,” the petition said, adding the father, who was not named, was employed by the U.S. government in Afghanistan.
Not only is the administration not honoring its promises to our allies, it’s also putting us in grave danger. Our credibility around the world has already been shot because of a ridiculous election that let an unexperienced clown and his buddies into the White House. Who will want to work with us now? Our work abroad almost always relies on cooperation from others—and in the case of the Middle East, the work of foreign nationals who put themselves at risk to assist the U.S. has been vital to our (limited) success. Donald Trump’s bluster and one-man showmanship may have worked for him in business and reality TV, but its not exactly smart foreign policy. Is the policy of this president that America goes it alone from now on? Because that’s exactly what will happen if he continues to offend and backstab our allies. And of course, detaining a family (including children who are 6 years, 7 years, and 8 months old) who already have immigrant visas at the airport is grossly inhumane.
This administration continues to be a disaster, and its xenophobia disguised as ‘security’ will put us—and the world—at risk.