Thread by @msbellows

Many RW are arguing that Obama was tough on immigration too. They're partly right: deportations increased under Obama, and both families with children and unaccompanied minors were held in deportation facilities. Deportations were Obama's biggest error -- he was wrong. BUT: 1/

... contrary to self-serving Republican claims, the Left was extremely vocal in opposition to deportations under Obama. Wrong is wrong, and we were not hypocrites. We called it out. 2/

What's more, it's vital to understand WHY Obama felt he needed to send a hardnosed message, WHY he wanted word to filter back to Central America that immigrating here unlawfully was not such a great idea. It's rooted in his humanitarian DREAMER policy. 3/

When Obama, out of his big heart, announced that people brought here unlawfully as young children would be allowed to remain, unscrupulous coyotes (human smugglers) spread the word in Mexico and Central America that any child entering the US was immune from deportation. 4/

That was false, and the coyotes knew it. But they wanted their money, so that's what they told people as part of their sales pitch: "give us all your money, and we"ll take your unaccompanied children to the US, where they'll be allowed to stay forever, safely." /5

This resulted in a surge of unaccompanied children being smuggled into the US. Along the way, many, many, many were raped. Nearly all were robbed. And many died. And all based on a false promise. The coyotes were breaking up families, not preserving them. /6

Under Obama, we launched a PR campaign in Mexico and Central America, explaining that the coyotes were lying. But in tiny villages, and in indigenous communities where few people even spoke Spanish, the coyotes were the main source of information, and the children kept coming. /7

So Obama had no choice but to house these minors in detention facilities before returning them to their families. That was, indeed, the law, and Obama enforced it. But it happened because Obama had enacted the DREAM policy -- a kind act, not a cruel one. It frustrated him. /8

Hell, there were RADIO ADS in Latin America repeating the coyotes' lie! Children were being raped and dying en route! Families were being broken apart! And Congress was using this influx as a political weapon to oppose the DREAM Act! Receipt: washingtonpost.com/politics/influ…
/9

Clearly the influx of unaccompanied children had to stop. Word had to filter back to these children's families that sending them here was not safe, and was not lawful. So Obama was hardnosed about sending the children back. 10/

But he didn't separate children from their families at the border. Didn't have babies pulled from their mothers' breasts. Didn't tell parents their children were being taken away for "showers." He tried to enforce the law to protect children and keep families together. /11

So when apologists for evil try to claim Trump is doing nothing different than Obama did, call them on it. Call them out. Don't let them tell that lie. Yes, @BarackObama was too harsh on deportations. He was wrong. But the situation nevertheless was completely different. 12/12

@BarackObama P.S.: Thanks to @21law for triggering my thoughts on this. I love the better half of the Twitter community. You make me think and organize my thoughts and consider new ideas and generally become a better person.

@BarackObama @threadreaderapp unroll

@BarackObama @21law P.P.S.: See also mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-wo…

@BarackObama @21law P.S.3: My quick take on the executive order:

1. Trump falsely pretends he has no prosecutorial discretion to decide whether/when to prosecute vs deeper vs release pending evaluation of colorable asylum claims. ... 1/

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@BarackObama @21law 2. He CLOSED some of the official entry points, making proper asylum applications impossible.
3. Promising to keep families together only "where appropriate and consistent with law and available resources" is the Biggest Loophole Ever. ...
2/

@BarackObama @21law 4. He's gonna challenge Flores, ie, try to get permission to hold vulnerable families in Arpaio-style tent cities etc.
5. He's making it all contingent on "appropriations," ie, he's shifting the battle to Congress, where he'll make construction of adequate facilities, ...
3/

@BarackObama @21law ... enough courtrooms to process cases fairly + efficiently, etc. contingent on US taxpayers paying for The Wall.
6. Conclusion: Not NEARLY good enough. We should amp up, not stand down.
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