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1/x Thread on immigration detention and family separation during the Obama years.
Trump may be awful, but our treatment of immigrant families has been horrendous for years, Democrats & Republicans can't erase their guilt by pretending Trump is responsible for America's crimes.
Trump may be awful, but our treatment of immigrant families has been horrendous for years, Democrats & Republicans can't erase their guilt by pretending Trump is responsible for America's crimes.
2/x We need to look at two separate but related things. Detention of children and separation of families. Both happened under Obama and Bush. And both are closely linked to the deportation machine that grew exponentially under Obama.
From 2014, not 2018
From 2014, not 2018
3/x "But this is a new policy Trump created!" critics charge.
Yes, this policy that immediately separated several thousand kids from parents was newly enacted. BUT neither the detention of children in prisons & detention centers and the separation of families are new.
Yes, this policy that immediately separated several thousand kids from parents was newly enacted. BUT neither the detention of children in prisons & detention centers and the separation of families are new.
4/x First let's look at the imprisonment of children. This is not a new thing.
In 2014 the Obama administration made the choice to use detention of immigrant families as a deterrent to stem the flow of refugees trying to escape violence in Central and South America.
In 2014 the Obama administration made the choice to use detention of immigrant families as a deterrent to stem the flow of refugees trying to escape violence in Central and South America.
5/x The policy was to treat immigrants horribly to try to convince others not to come.
The ACLU sued the Obama administration in 2015 to halt this practice of using detention and imprisonment as a weapon to deter other immigrants from coming to the US. https://www.aclu.org/cases/rilr-v-johnson
The ACLU sued the Obama administration in 2015 to halt this practice of using detention and imprisonment as a weapon to deter other immigrants from coming to the US. https://www.aclu.org/cases/rilr-v-johnson
6/x After denying asylum to families the Obama administration ruled they had no right to appeal, defying precedent.
There was no reason to hold these families as studies show asylum seekers almost always show up to hearings, but they were detained anyways.
There was no reason to hold these families as studies show asylum seekers almost always show up to hearings, but they were detained anyways.
7/x Children in custody showed signs of childhood trauma and other developmental problems as well PTSD.
We were detaining children. This was and is inhumane. It did not start in 2018.
https://www.thenation.com/article/the-deportation-machine-obama-built-for-president-trump/
We were detaining children. This was and is inhumane. It did not start in 2018.
https://www.thenation.com/article/the-deportation-machine-obama-built-for-president-trump/
8/x When a judge ruled Obama's family detention centers were illegally holding children for too long, the Obama administration appealed! https://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/07/18/opinion/mr-obamas-dubious-detention-centers.html
9/x Children spend their 2nd consecutive Christmas in detention.
Kids from 2-9 were imprisoned and wrote X-mas cards asking for freedom & to be reunited with their families. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/21/us-immigration-detention-center-christmas-santa-wish-list
Kids from 2-9 were imprisoned and wrote X-mas cards asking for freedom & to be reunited with their families. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/21/us-immigration-detention-center-christmas-santa-wish-list
10/x "Dear Santa Claus, I want a present and that present should be my liberty and more things. I’m two years old."
11/x Let's look at family separation.
This report looks at the variety of ways children were separated from parents over a 5 year period under Obama.
https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/KIND%20-%20Betraying%20Family%20Values.pdf
This report looks at the variety of ways children were separated from parents over a 5 year period under Obama.
https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/KIND%20-%20Betraying%20Family%20Values.pdf
12/x Some families were held together, some kids were sent to separate facilities, some parents were held in jail while kids were released to relatives or sent to foster care facilities. On top of this thousands of parents were deported while children remained in the US.
13/x If you think separating families started in 2017 or 2018 your are choosing to simply ignore the reality that is the horror of our immigration system.
14/x Many family separations resulted from criminal charges being brought against the parent.
This was a choice the Obama administration made to begin criminal proceedings against men and women who crossed the border.
This was a choice the Obama administration made to begin criminal proceedings against men and women who crossed the border.
15/x Once they decided to detain and prosecute the parents, the choice is to either keep the children in jail with the parents, or separate them. Under Obama both of these things happened.
https://www.thenation.com/article/why-is-the-obama-administration-keeping-toddlers-behind-bars/
https://www.thenation.com/article/why-is-the-obama-administration-keeping-toddlers-behind-bars/
16/x Parents and children were separated and deported to different locations!
There is absolutely no justification for this is cruel and inhuman practice.
A father and his pregnant daughter are deported to places 360 miles apart.
There is absolutely no justification for this is cruel and inhuman practice.
A father and his pregnant daughter are deported to places 360 miles apart.
17/x Often times once children and parents were separated ICE or DHS lost track of one of the parties.
Here they lose track of the mother of 9 and 10 yr old girls.
Here they lose track of the mother of 9 and 10 yr old girls.
18/x Imagine being separated from your child at the border. You are held in a detention center and you have know idea where your 6 year old son is.
This didn't start in 2018.
This didn't start in 2018.
19/x Deportations are a huge part of family separation. In 2013 alone, the Obama administration deported 72k parents of US born children.
Think about that for a second. 72k parents and children separated. Why? This is unconscionable.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/25/parents-deportation_n_5531552.html
Think about that for a second. 72k parents and children separated. Why? This is unconscionable.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/25/parents-deportation_n_5531552.html
20/x Both the imprisonment of immigrants and deportations skyrocket under Obama.
Obama didn't just continue Bush's policies here, he expanded them exponentially.
https://www.thenation.com/article/the-deportation-machine-obama-built-for-president-trump/
Obama didn't just continue Bush's policies here, he expanded them exponentially.
https://www.thenation.com/article/the-deportation-machine-obama-built-for-president-trump/
21/x Many immigration activists decried Obama's expansion of the deportation state.
Liberals like to ignore this part of Obama's legacy.
Liberals like to ignore this part of Obama's legacy.
22/x This expansion of the deportation machine was a boon for private prisons.
Private prisons made huge amounts of money imprisoning immigrants thanks to Obama's polices.
https://outline.com/G6gASu
Private prisons made huge amounts of money imprisoning immigrants thanks to Obama's polices.
https://outline.com/G6gASu
23/x Bill Clinton also plays a key role here too.
In 1996 he signed the "Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act"
This bill set the stage for increased deportations, expanding who can be deported and making it easier to do so. https://www.vox.com/2016/4/28/11515132/iirira-clinton-immigration
In 1996 he signed the "Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act"
This bill set the stage for increased deportations, expanding who can be deported and making it easier to do so. https://www.vox.com/2016/4/28/11515132/iirira-clinton-immigration
24/x Then in 2002 George Bush signed the bill creating DHS and creates ICE in 2003.
Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer, Harry Reid, Joe Biden, & Dianne Feinstein voted for the bill.
Bernie Sanders voted against it.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeland_Security_Act
Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer, Harry Reid, Joe Biden, & Dianne Feinstein voted for the bill.
Bernie Sanders voted against it.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeland_Security_Act
25/x Both the imprisonment of children and family separation are immoral practices. But most Americans ignored these things for years.
Trump's specific recent policy separating families at the border may be new. But neither of these practices started with Trump.
Trump's specific recent policy separating families at the border may be new. But neither of these practices started with Trump.
26/x So now Democrats have a choice. Are they happy to go back to a policy where children are locked up with parents and families were separated in a number of ways but everyone ignored it?
Or do they have the courage to call for the end of detention and the abolition of ICE?
Or do they have the courage to call for the end of detention and the abolition of ICE?
27x 2016 Human Rights Watch report "20 Years of Immigration Abuses" that describes family separation. https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/04/25/us-20-years-immigrant-abuses
