We are tired of the erosion of basic civil liberties in this country. I just want to revisit one of the more distressing examples with this post.
This first came to my attention here on Kos last year sometime, but has seemed to largely have dropped off the radar. Information about the story that grabbed everyone's attention can be found below the fold organized in my original anger filled attempt at writing something upon first learning about this story. It does appear that some changes have been made since my orginal post.
The gist is that there was a Palestiniain family here on a legal visa for several years. During that time they attempted to file for asylum here in the US among other western nations. When it was apparent they were not going to be granted asylum and the visa was running out they attempted to return to the West Bank. Neither Jordan nor Israel would allow them to cross their borders. They were stuck here. ICE raided their home sent the father to one facility and sent the mother with 3 or 4 of her children to the T Don Hutto Family Prison. An infant, an american citizen, was left with some neighbors.
here is a blog that tracks the goings on at T Don Hutto
OK, I have had it. I have snapped. I have wretched. I can not believe it. I am stunned. Disgusting. acchhhh. arrrgggghhhhh. I believe myself to be overly cynical about this gang of zealots running our country but this still caught me off gaurd. NO MORAL COMPASS!!
I told myself I would not simply be a linkwhore blogger, but I am so enraged I can not write, but I want this info on my blog as soon as possible...
Turns out the government has opened private detention centers for entire families of illegal immigrants, ranging from infants to their mothers...22 hours a day under lock and key....1 hour of schooling...1 hour of rec time...children forced to clean restrooms...no contact with friends or family not incarcerated...entire families...months and months at a time...kids forced to wear prison jumpsuits...cells with freestanding toilets...no criminal offenses or charges...I am aghast...outraged...this is a sad time for our Nation and I see no improvement on the horizon...grrrrr....here are just a few links i have found about this...
Family released
a blog that follows developments in one of the counties where the facility operates
Texas Civil Rights Review related articles
Notice that Correction Corps Board Member Donna Alvaredo was a Reagan appointee
The ICE T. Don Hutto Family Residential Facility: maintaining family unity, enforcing immigration laws this is what OUR government calls this disgrace.
"There is no law that calls for the incarceration of children," he said. "Even our own U.S. laws do not call for the incarceration of children."
This quote is from here this is a sentence that just makes my skin crawl. This is worse than debating torture. These people, children, parents everyone imprisoned are not being held on ANY criminal charges.
somewhat related NPR story
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