I have been "jailed" twice in my life.
The first time was when I was 4 years old. My family was trying to leave communist Vietnam and were caught. My father was sent to one prison, my mom and I another. I remember a meal of rice and rock salt. But they at least had the decency to allow me to stay with my mother.
When I was 6 years old, I was jailed again. This time it was at an immigration detention center in Hong Kong. We were one of the boat people that inundated Hong Kong in the late 70s. I remember bits and pieces of the journey.
I remember it took nearly a month. I remember being hungry. I remember being turned away from trying to dock in Macau. But we eventually made it to Hong Kong.
The first immigration camp we stayed in was in Kowloon. I remember taking English classes, and running to hide because I didn't want to take a shower. But my entire family were allowed to stay together.
The second camp was in Victoria Prison. The men were in one section, and the women and children in another. I stayed with my mom. At meals, the family reunited.
In 1979, after a year in Hong Kong, we were "sponsored" to the US. I went to school, learned English, and eventually became a citizen in this country. I now employ 4 in my own business, and pay taxes.
So it is truly ironic that I now find myself in a country that turns away refugees, and separates immigrant families. Also ted cruz is a hypocritical, enabling idiot.
