EMPTY THE “CAGES”

EMPTY THE “CAGES”

There is no reason to vote Trump or support Trump immigration policies

“This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.” Jeremiah 22:3

My statement and position for those who are unclear about what happened under Trump. Use the references below for more reading.

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There were more than 3,800 families separated as a result of Trump’s zero-tolerance detention policy. Most of these families have been reunited, but 545 parents are still separated from their families. 

Under the Obama administration, groups of migrants were separated with chain-link fences: teenage males traveling alone, women with small children, families, and others. The Trump administration implemented a new policy to systematically separate all families including asylum seekers and those who lawfully sought refuge in the United States. The Trump administration proceeded to place separated families and children in locked warehouses with the chain-link partitions resembling cages, or in tent cities, or in converted big box stores all across the country. This cruel and inhumane practice was implemented inconsistently, as some children under 5 were not separated in some locations, but in other locations all children, even babies, were torn from their parents by U.S. agents. Obama never did that, Trump did.

Even though this policy was officially disbanded in 2018, the practice of separating families continues under the radar and in different guises. By February 2020 1,142+ children were separated from parents since the policy officially “ended”. The facilities still remain in use and the practice of separating families has occurred after the policy was disbanded meaning that there are still migrants and children in these cage-like facilities. The “cages” remain under Trump.

Trump’s message is that migrant families do not have the same basic human rights to stay together as we do, that somehow, they are less than human. We know that even Border Patrol agents use derogatory words in reference to migrants, calling them animals. That is disgusting in and of itself.

So, what must happen? End these detention practices once and for all! There are more humane and cheaper options to handle this situation as the families in the U.S. have someone ready to receive these migrants, and non-profit organizations have processes in place to safely welcome the few who do not. This is actually what Biden would do, as it says on his website: “The Trump Administration has sought to circumvent the Flores agreement and hold children in detention indefinitely. But proven alternatives to detention and non-profit case management programs, which support migrants as they navigate their legal obligations, are the best way to ensure that they attend all required immigration appointments.”

May the inhumane practice of the Trump administration cease and may there never be anyone in these “cages” ever again. May families be released together outside of these detention centers to continue their immigration cases. 

References:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/family-separation-policy-trump-administration-documents-immigration

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/family-separations-zero-tolerance-policy-us-planned-to-separate-more-than-26000-migrant-families-2019-11-27

https://www.splcenter.org/news/2020/06/18/family-separation-policy-continues-two-years-after-trump-administration-claims-it-ended

https://immigrationimpact.com/2020/05/19/ice-binary-choice/#.X5sTJ0JKhE5

https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/kids-in-cages-debate-trump-obama/2020/10/23/8ff96f3c-1532-11eb-82af-864652063d61_story.html?fbclid=IwAR0IAPTCEPNyetIVPTppL68haXdzkhZcXMt8IiqEjCOwdMGigL7Ze9A1fNA

Ugliness Is Speaking

Division by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Alpha Stock Images

I believe in the possible unity of the entire world based on trust, honesty, and love for one another. It can begin with the self, then one’s family, then percolate upward into small groups of families, communities and cities, a conglomeration of cities and communities, subdivisions of countries, nations, regions of the world, and finally the world as a whole. This idea takes inspiration from the teachings of Ken Wilber in that the values of humanity can evolve from an egocentric view to a kosmocentric view  (here’s research compiled by Barrett C. Brown on this: https://integralwithoutborders.net/sites/default/files/resources/Overview%20of%20Developmental%20Levels.pdf).

The U.S. is a nation of states and regions that at times work together and at other times work at cross purposes, engaging even in violent conflict, as happened during the Civil War. We also cannot ignore the reality of the urban/rural and class divisions, which is explored in a post on Quora by Peter Kruger (“What don’t most liberals realize?”). Now, the unity of the states is threatened again, especially as the federal government mounts a weak response to the COVID-19 pandemic, sending divisive messages that engender hostility among regions, peoples, and states in our struggling nation.

What do we do? I believe in unity, but it is impossible in this state of affairs. How can people be unified when half of them are uncaring toward their neighbors, seeing them as enemies who must be defeated, as some have lost sight of humanity and are indifferent to the inhumane treatment of others? To have such a mindset is evil and to be in solidarity with, or tactility allow those views in others cannot foster true unity.

What are we to do? Nothing has shocked these people into changing their hearts to work for a better and more humane nation –  not the slaughter of innocent children at Sandy Hook; not the cruel family separations and squalid living conditions endured by migrants fleeing war and oppression; and not the corruption of the current president who, along with his political allies, is eroding democracy right in front of our eyes. It seems too many are fully concerned with "owning" the other side.

Do you know what this implies? It implies that killing innocent children is acceptable. That separating families seeking refuge is acceptable. That squeezing dozens, if not hundreds of people into tiny cells built to hold only a dozen people with one toilet, making their confines ripe for disease, is acceptable. And that a potential dictatorship in the United States of America is acceptable.

Is it hard to see that this is the condition of our so-called nation? I say “so-called” because we hardly act like a nation – our sense of unity is regressing to the state and regional levels as the true colors of the various parts of our country are exposed. This leads to disgust and, in some cases, outright rage for our neighbor. Even worse, it engenders indifference and an instinct to “play nice,” a naïve “let’s-all-get-along” mentality that fails to accept reality and how impossible our nation’s disunity has made it to get along.

Perhaps we need this regression so that the ugliness of this country is seen and felt, enabling us to encounter the reality that is America, without lies or rose-colored glasses, the hideousness laid bare in front of our faces. Will you then see that this is not beauty, that this is not love, that this is not the way? You will be faced with a choice: Accept it or reject it. Which will you choose?

We have an opportunity if we allow ourselves to see our ugliness, front and center. Some are numb to it, some embrace it, and some are appalled and insist this is not who we are. We have an opportunity to truthfully reject this ugliness and work towards a more morally evolved nation.

But how? One way I know: Start small with the people and environments in front of us, use the values of trust, honesty, and love in conversations, materials shared on social media, and the treatment we afford those around us and online. Avoid mean-spiritedness, to our friends, those outside our social circles and communities, and even toward our enemies. Show grace among a chaos of thorns in order to inspire a change of attitude and spirit while advocating for the good values of trust, honesty, and love through speech and action. This is one thing we have immediate control over, and it is a wonderful journey. Personally, as I aim to live life this way, even though I miss the mark at times, I constantly check myself, pick myself up, and amend my actions and speech if they do not reflect love and charity for others. But in order for any of this to begin, we must have an honest and brutal rendering of any darkness within us. Confront and release the darkness within so that we can shine a light on others. Keep the faith too, that we can change for the better - doubt must not have a home within us. Without faith, how can we inspire others around us to change for the better, let alone inspire the nation, or the world?

It is possible that we need to see the divisions in our country that were already there, thus causing even more hardened divisions, in order to truthfully acknowledge the ugly reality of our nation. If we acknowledge it, reject it in our mind and soul, and let it go, advocating for positive change, and translating that advocacy into action, then perhaps the United States of America might become better unified in the future. 

The projection of love is always grander and its reality is infinite. From a united nation, a united world can some day happen. Are we up to the task? Will we answer the call to love?


(Editorial assistance in this post by Alaric DeArment.)