Quote:
Originally Posted by arista
(Post 10045984)
At this time in USA
Its all about illegal immigrants
have their kids taken away from them,
Trump says criminals are using kids to get into USA,
I amazed Maru does not have a thread on this.
Ref: CNN HD Live
and FoxNewsHD Live (online only for UK , at this time)
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Yeah, I kind of needed a break from politics. I haven't been watching and reading as much lately anyway due to work (I have a 2nd job now... :spin:). But it's terrible to hear this is going on, and I would imagine our allies probably are confused how we let this happen (despite Trump)... but I will say my theory...
The policy has been in place since Obama-era, but I would not be surprised if it's gone on even much longer than that (possibly decades). It's very common in the US for beauracracies to turn heads and to "mask" these issues rather than to deal with them the proper way.
Probably, their budget is very limited, hence the ridiculous conditions they are being detained under. Welfare services is very similar in TX. Before my mother got her social worker sorted, she would have to wait 9+ hours just to see someone in a chair with a room of crowded folk (including some illegals).
The authorities (national maybe) running this either don't want to know what is going on, whereas those directly involved may actually compalin, but nothing is done. Probably budgeting does not help, but there is a loophole with regard to criminal charges here. Anyway, we will restrict how much is spent, because these folk are not US citizens... as such, they're not very high on the totem pole for budgeting/representation.
There are unions/organizations that represent the inmates here in TX, and as such, there is a lot more pressure on the upper brass to be more forthright with caring for these individuals and caring for them in custody. However, it's still the same scenario there... the upper brass would rather not want to know how the pie is made so to speak, just that it remains within certain thresholds and that the paperwork lines up. That's how a lot of these things end up "covered up" imo... the lower ranks, the folk directly responsible for caring for these people probably raised the issue multiple times... but usually nothing is done, because nobody further up wants to be held accountable for those conditions should it hit the media and raise questions.
It usually takes a scandal for something like this to actually get addressed. Sad but true, but that is the state of US politics. It is the same in Congress, and it is the same in all our institutions. Only with ample pressure does reform ever occur.
Personally, I'm agitated that Congress won't act and pass a bill dealing with this. Seems irresponsible as it is their job to handle such matters. An executive order can be changed later... but legislature would provide guidance for future laws/reforms to take shape. If there are shortfalls in funding, then those matters should be addressed with legislation citing guidelines that must be followed with these folk who are in our custody.
Right now, the focus is on making this into a political thing. That is wrong and both sides are attempting to milk the issue. It should be about doing what's right, plain and simple, this should be a bipartisan effort once it became known to these folk. Some knew much longer than before Trump was president, that there were serious issues here. However, both sides have their heads up their ***, so I don't think it serves any purpose to point fingers at this point... both are responsible for this having gone on as long as it has.
Nobody is really representing when these people are here. Not even the Democrats. What should happen, imo, is that Mexico should become more involved in the treatment and handling of their citizens in our custody. They are legal citizens of that country, so they should have some interest in their care. They should get involved with the deportation/criminal process as much as possible so that these individuals are cared for properly... they should've been the first to raise an alarm.
If it were a US citizen detained elsewhere in terrible conditions, Trump & co, Congress, etc, would all be raising cane. However, because they are not
our citizens, have no affiliations or links to the US (officially), they lack true representation here and that is where the Consulate needs to step up I think. Though hopefully now that this issue has come to the forefront, more will be done on our end to further their care in our custody... especially the children, as emotional support is really key here, having probably gone through enough before even crossing the border. Their parents may make stupid decisions, but I think the right thing would be to step up here and provide services for them while in custody...
Perhaps an educational/child development program can be developed to work with these children and their peers. Something hospitality-focused, so that at least instead of sitting in shared facility full-time, they get a break while their parents handle their case. I don't think that they're "entitled" to these services, but I think it's important that the US send the message that we are compassionate towards the individuals. We do not agree obviously with them coming across legally. However I think if the US were to remain hard and cold towards immigrant populations, it may reform our image and perhaps even people would be more willing to file for asylum the correct way... i.e. nothing personal, but we can't just allow anyone in unconditionally, but we will look after your children properly (and care for their basic needs) while you are in our custody. I think that would be a modern touch to our immigration system... yes we need a wall and to seal our borders, but there should also be understanding that many folk try to come here to find a better life. That was after all the promise of the American dream... their decision to leave their home is not a light one, as I'm sure many people are still emotionally attached to Mexico, their roots.
My school was a vast majority Hispanic (mostly Mexican heritage) and we had those programs, including Spanish-speaking folk who ran the school, mariachi bands, celebrations of their heritage even though it was a US school... it felt appropriate and welcoming to those folk, and a good cultural lesson for myself. So I would like to see that for their children while they are in our custody, that they put in schools that are friendly to them and can accomodate their needs... if even just temporarily (a few weeks) until their case is processed and they are possibly sent back home? I don't know that I agree with putting their parents in jail for simply crossing the border (i.e. rather than violent crimes, etc)... charges yes, but imprisonment... not really, especially if we are just going to send them back.
I think because they are our neighbors (Mexico), we should treat their citizens with hospitality. If anything, to better relations. I think that enforcing our laws doesn't need to come at the expense of that care... if Trump is serious about improving our laws and rebuilding our relations as a strong and robust nation, then he has to consider these small transactional relations as well with foreign citizens, not just overarching laws, that if not are handled with care will cause many unintended side-effects... whether our authorities intend this or not, they have to understand the full impact of laws/procedures that they enact... no different than any other institution. I think that repairing relationships on an individual level with foreign citizens is very important for a country as large and significant as the US, if it hopes to unite even folk in its own population...visitors and foreigners who have negative opinions of our country on the whole, they have a more objective perspective and it does help to inflame domestic relations as well when we damage these relations with foreign countries... I think. Like a look in the mirror...
