The Harsh Truth of Immigrant Detention Under Trump

The U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently backed the Trump administration's policy of mandatory and indefinite detention for immigrants held by ICE or Customs and Border Protection. This policy is harsh and unfair. It affects thousands of immigrants who have not been convicted of any crime. Some have not even been accused of a crime beyond their initial alleged illegal entry. Many people lose legal status because they overstay their visas. These individuals are not guilty of any crime since their original entry was lawful. Even illegal entry is only a misdemeanor for a first offense. Yet, the Trump administration treats immigration detention like a criminal punishment. They use it to inflict pain on anyone caught in their system. Detainees face horrific conditions of deprivation and abuse. These conditions are meant to pressure people into leaving the country, even if they have valid asylum claims or legal status. The administration is also expanding its system of internment camps, purchasing warehouses to hold tens of thousands of people.These facilities can be compared to concentration camps. A concentration camp is any place where a government holds groups of civilians outside the normal legal process. The conditions within the administration’s detention facilities certainly fit this description. A Russian family described their four-month ordeal at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center. They reported worms in their food, guards shouting orders, and snatching toys from small hands. They also mentioned restless nights under fluorescent lights that never fully go dark. Hours were spent in line for a single pill. The family felt they had left one tyranny to enter another. Another case involves Kheilin Valero from Venezuela. She was held with her 18-month-old daughter, Amalia Arrieta. After being detained, Amalia fell ill. Medical staff gave her ibuprofen and eventually antibiotics, but her condition worsened. She was hospitalized for 10 days and diagnosed with Covid-19 and RSV. Kheilin stated that because of the delay in treatment and the cold conditions, Amalia developed pneumonia and bronchitis. She was also malnourished due to vomiting everything. These stories highlight the severe impact of the Trump administration's immigration policies. It is crucial to critically examine these practices and their effects on vulnerable individuals.