Tonight, I’m returning home to my own babies, carrying with me the faces and voices and stories of the moms and dads I spoke to over the past few days who do not know where their children are or when they will next see them. /1
The mom whose deaf and mute son was taken away from her. The moms fleeing horrific domestic abuse. The moms whose family members were killed by gangs and whose lives and children’s lives were threatened. The dad tied to a tree and beaten. The dad threatened with mutilation. /2
The stories are endless. And they are gut-wrenching. And our taxpayer money is being used to treat them like criminals and to cage them and to take their children away from them. /3
Make no mistake about it: this calculated, intentional policy of family separation is designed to make people suffer. It’s designed to make them give up their right to seek asylum. And it’s designed to make them have to choose between their children and their lives. /4
There is nothing about this that’s debatable. The discussion about ports of entry is a red herring. There is no requirement - absolutely none - that people be at a port of entry in order to seek asylum. Most people don’t know where ports of entry are. /5
It’s been a harrowing few days with my @DullesJustice sisters @SEDLAW15 and @ofelial1, and with the team of women lawyers we met at the detention center. /6
This work takes a toll. Huge shout out to the attorneys and organizations who do it day in, day out, year in, year out, providing assistance and representation to detained immigrants. @CAIRCoalition in MD & VA. @Am4ImmJustice in FL. @RAICESTEXAS in TX. @FlorenceProject in AZ. /7
And many, many more across the country. The need is great, and the resources are few. The cases keep coming in relentlessly. It takes a special kind of strength and stamina to keep going. Thank your for all you do. I’m so glad to be a small part of it. /9
We need a systemic solution to this. Our immigration laws are broken and inhumane, and our immigration enforcement system has gone off the rails. It’s become an exercise in cruelty and the destruction of lives. /10
This is not who we are. Not what we should stand for. We are replaying the worst parts of our history. We need to do better. /11
And most of all, before we do anything else, we need to get these kids back to their parents. And not put them in cages. We’ll keep on fighting until that happens. /end
#FamiliesBelongTogether
#FamiliesBelongTogether
