The immigrant community is at grave risk.
“Infectious disease outbreaks have a long history of preying on society’s most vulnerable, disenfranchised members.”
#COVID19 is no exception.
nytimes.com/2020/03/06/opi…
All those who have been subject to the Trump Admin’s roster of anti-immigrant policies are in a vulnerable position. From those in detention to those living under MPP.
Here’s how...
The public charge rule will continue to deter millions of noncitizens from seeking medical care of any kind. Putting thousands at risk.
It MUST be suspended.
Under MPP 60,000 asylum-seekers have been sent back to Mexico, where many have been forced into squalid, overcrowded tent encampments with no running water.
What measures have been taken to stop the spread of disease there? Will our gov’t look away from a problem they created?
@TRACReports estimated that between 80,000 & 94,000 court hearings were canceled as a result of last year’s gov’t shutdown.
If this were to happen again under #COVD19 how would immigration courts notify homeless refugees under #MPP living in makeshift camps?
According to The NY Times, “more than 100,000 people across more than 80 countries have been infected with the new virus”
This is a GLOBAL issue.
A wall or a closed border was never going to solve the problem.
And last but not least: Immigration detention conditions are already poor. A coronavirus outbreak could be a disaster.
dailykos.com/story/2020/3/9…
Neither DHS, ICE or EOIR have provided any sort of contingency plan that would help reduce exposure to detained immigrants, their families, gov staff, judges, or jail staff.
edition.cnn.com/2020/03/09/pol…
“We know there have been cases of medical negligence, of lack of access or reduced access to care, we’ve heard stories about a lack of basic hygiene measures so, no soap, no hand sanitizer.” - Dr Ranit Mishori, Physicians for Human Rights
theguardian.com/world/2020/mar…
Our attorneys are extremely concerned for the health and well being of our clients held at Karnes & Pearsall Detention Centers in Texas right now.
At Karnes there are families with children and those at Pearsall are trans women with HIV.
We are working with at least 6 children w/cold/cough/flu symptoms w/several families complaining of inadequate testing and/or treatment.
We’re currently aware of 4 pregnant women & 14 babies under 2 years old detained at Karnes.
Let’s make this clear: Their lives are in danger.
Quick recap:
- Immigration officials have refused to give detained kids & families flu shots in the past
- There was a mumps outbreak in detention centers between Sept‘18 - Aug‘19
- Clean water & soap are NOT guaranteed in detention
- Dangerous overcrowding in facilities
...etc.
Let’s make this clear: It is much more likely that outsiders will bring #COVID19 INTO detention centers. And under the aftermentioned conditions ^ that would result in a humanitarian disaster.🚨
We continue our call to #FreeThemALL 🗣 alongside many other orgs.
“Forcibly keeping tens of thousands in squalid conditions, while adding people despite the foreseeable consequences, is criminally negligent.”
Read @NDLON’s 5 Point Plan on Worker & Migrant Justice under #COVID19 👇🏽 #FreeThemALL
ndlon.org/worker-migrant…
It’s time for ICE & CBP to release EVERYONE from immigration detention & for immigration courts to stop any and all hearings.
We demand an immediate moratorium to raids & deportations targeting our communities.
This isn’t politics. Lives are at risk. #FreeThemALL #DontLookAway
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