Thread by @rise_alien

I need to respond to "Who Built the Cages Joe?"

As though a catchy phrase could absolve Trump for all he's done.

It can't.

Immigration is a complex issue, but let's talk about the cages.

1/15

The US has always had immigrant holding cells. As long as we've wanted to keep people out they've been there

When Obama was president, the refugee population exploded largely due to the worldwide Bush Recession

Obama expanded the facilities to meet the influx of refugees

2/15

We can definitely question whether the facilities were expanded correctly to meet the needs of the refugee families and children.

I would argue no. it's never okay to cage a child.

However, there were laws in place that made sure no one was held indefinitely

3/15

There were "length of time" restrictions in place.

People were able to claim asylum, vetted and released with court dates.

90% showed up to their court dates because they yearned for a better life - not because they are "low IQ"

4/15

Single children were placed with family members or in foster care. They were not left to languish.

Then Trump and Stephen Miller came along and they changed all of the rules.

They stopped funding programs in at risk countries. This started a new wave of refugees.

5/15

Trump called them dangerous caravans of criminals to incite fear. He said they were murderers and gang bangers.

When the refugees arrived he had them tear gassed.

Women, children, and sad, weary refugees were tear gassed as political theatre

6/15

Trump made it so the refugees could be held indefinitely. He started his infamous program of family separation as a punishment.

Stephen Miller, Jeff Sessions, Kirstjen Nielsen, Rod Rosenstien - they all became the Nazi Crew who got it done.

7/15

The refugees were no longer released with court dates. They were no longer allowed to claim asylum. Parents were deported without their children. Children were deported without their parents

Thousands remained in custody and they began to be stacked up like kindling wood

8/15

The refugees were denied water, toilets, showers and medical care. Some of the children died. Women miscarried

The numbers were so great, the refugees were imprisoned under freeway overpasses with no heat or air

Dog cages were used.

Record keeping was lax or non-existent

9/15

Then came the privatization. Private prison contractors came in with an eye to make money. Prisons! For kids! The kids were overseen by the guards who had no background in childcare, psychology, teaching or medicine

6 year old kids were tasked with the changing of diapers

10/15

An adoption group with ties to Betsy DeVos got involved and more children disappeared.

Thousands of refugees were raped, assaulted, trafficked and lost.

Melania showed up, said everything was great and hopped on a plane with her "I Don't Really Care Do You?" jacket

11/15

Democratic Congressmen and Senators were denied entrance.

@AOC was mocked for crying

Children died
Women died
Men died

Children and babies were placed on planes with no paperwork. They arrived in countries without names, birthdates or identification

Signatures forged

12/15

Recently there have been reports of refugee women being experimented on; sterilized and uteruses removed against their will.

Do not tell me these are not Concentration Camps.

Or that Obama did it.

Or Joe.

13/15

540 orphaned children - Although, I believe the number is much higher - is not acceptable.

Trump promised he would protect the Dreamers. He's done the opposite and created a generation of young people living in fear and distrust

Trump has deported US soldiers.

14/15

Trump has deported the spouses of US soldiers.

There is a stain of evil within this administration and it was Trump who built that.

Not Obama. Not Joe.

Trump did that.

Now what are we going to do?

@JoeBiden
@KamalaHarris
@AOC
@BernieSanders
@PeteButtigieg

15/15