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KoKo

(84,711 posts)
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 06:10 PM Jun 2014

Over 47,000 Unaccompanied Children Detained in Shocking Conditions..Warehouses/Plastic Containers..

Children on the Run: U.S. Detains Thousands of Young Migrants Seeking Safety, Family Reunification

U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports over 47,000 unaccompanied children have been detained so far this year after crossing the border, almost double the number for all of 2013 and almost five times the number from 2009. President Obama has described the situation as a "humanitarian crisis." Some of the children have been detained in shocking conditions. Over 1,000 children are reportedly being held at a warehouse in Nogales, Arizona, some sleeping in plastic containers. We speak to Jose Luis Zelaya, who fled Honduras in 2000 at the age of 13 in search of his mother. He traveled unaccompanied through Central America and finally reached Texas four months later. Zelaya is now a Ph.D. student at Texas A&M in the Department of Education. We also speak to Sonia Nazario in Los Angeles, California. She is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of "Enrique’s Journey: The Story of a Boy’s Dangerous Odyssey to Reunite with His Mother."
Transcript

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.

AMY GOODMAN: A coalition of immigration and civil rights groups has filed a complaint alleging widespread and systemic abuse of migrant children by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Organizations including the National Immigrant Justice Center and the ACLU say they’re acting on behalf of over 100 unaccompanied children mistreated by border agents after crossing into the United States. So far in 2014, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports over 47,000 unaccompanied children have been detained after crossing the border, almost double the number for all of 2013, almost five times the number from 2009. President Obama has described the situation as a "humanitarian crisis."

A number of the children have been detained in shocking conditions. Over a thousand children are reportedly being held at a warehouse in Nogales, Arizona, some sleeping in plastic containers. On Thursday, The Washington Post posted video showing makeshift holding areas for detained migrants at the McAllen, Texas, Border Patrol station. The video shows dozens of women and children sprawled on concrete floors.

Earlier this week, Democracy Now!’s Nermeen Shaikh and I spoke to two guests about the plight of these migrant children. In Houston, Jose Luis Zelaya, who fled Honduras in 2000 at the age of 13 in search of his mother—he traveled unaccompanied through Central America and finally reached Texas four months later. Zelaya is now a Ph.D. student at Texas A&M in the Department of Education, part of the Council for Minority Student Affairs at Texas A&M and a member of the immigrant rights group United We Dream.

We also spoke to Sonia Nazario in Los Angeles. She is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author of Enrique’s Journey: The Story of a Boy’s Dangerous Odyssey to Reunite with His Mother. I started by asking Sonia Nazario about the number of migrant children being warehoused in United States right now.

SONIA NAZARIO: Well, this surge, as it’s called, really started in 2011. We’ve seen over the last three years a tenfold increase in the number of children coming here unaccompanied, unlawfully and being placed in federal custody. And that doesn’t even count the Mexican children, nearly 20,000 of those additionally, who are deported within 24 or 48 hours. These are mostly children from Central America, from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and there’s just been this enormous surge. Last month, in one day, we saw a thousand children placed in federal custody, and, on average, 400 children are arriving every single day. And again, the federal government has seen itself completely unprepared for this surge, which, you know, two years ago we had a surge, and they opened Lackland Air Force Base for a couple of months and got caught with their pants down, and now again we’re seeing the same problem.

NERMEEN SHAIKH: And, Sonia Nazario, you’ve actually characterized this problem as a refugee crisis. What do you think the federal government should be doing to cope with these numbers of children migrants coming to the U.S.?

Show Full Transcript

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/6/13/children_on_the_run_us_detains
31 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Over 47,000 Unaccompanied Children Detained in Shocking Conditions..Warehouses/Plastic Containers.. (Original Post) KoKo Jun 2014 OP
K&R for exposure. The plight of these migrant children is heart-wrenching. Louisiana1976 Jun 2014 #1
migrant children kardonb Jun 2014 #6
Thanks for the right-wing propoganda - TBF Jun 2014 #8
KEPT in a 3-4 decision alp227 Jun 2014 #16
Sadly not surprising. :( nt TBF Jun 2014 #18
Also alerted on another post here by perdita, got an 0-7 vote, alp227 Jun 2014 #20
what utter bullshit...they are children noiretextatique Jun 2014 #29
Right wing "amnesty propaganda" at work jberryhill Jun 2014 #2
Yes, since none of them are eligible for DREAM ACT treatment treestar Jun 2014 #14
Oh my God! ananda Jun 2014 #3
I agree..nothing else to say Stuart G Jun 2014 #4
We have our own poor to take care of perdita9 Jun 2014 #5
But you're right. Something is up with this many all of a sudden showing up 7962 Jun 2014 #7
What unions? TBF Jun 2014 #9
How do you figure?? MORE workers competing for the same jobs means LESS pay. 7962 Jun 2014 #10
My view is that US labor needs to band TBF Jun 2014 #19
+1 nomorenomore08 Jun 2014 #22
Sadly our culture is much different here than Europe TBF Jun 2014 #26
geez...is this Discussionist? noiretextatique Jun 2014 #30
Well I support open borders but not immigration reform zeemike Jun 2014 #11
"thousands of parents shipping their offspring here and expecting America to raise them" alp227 Jun 2014 #17
sickening noiretextatique Jun 2014 #31
Amazing how many democrats are unsympathetic to the plight of these children. Vattel Jun 2014 #12
How do they get across the border? treestar Jun 2014 #13
A good deal of the border around the Southwest is basically wilderness. Difficult to patrol. nomorenomore08 Jun 2014 #23
I saw a movie once treestar Jun 2014 #27
Just think Spouting Horn Jun 2014 #15
A refugee crisis. Do we know if this is the description that is most correct? What is the crisis jwirr Jun 2014 #21
How, exactly, did 47,000 kids get here in the first place? Demo_Chris Jun 2014 #24
How do these kids get here? They couldn't have walked from South America. Kablooie Jun 2014 #25
Probably they are getting here ohheckyeah Jun 2014 #28
 

kardonb

(777 posts)
6. migrant children
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 08:35 PM
Jun 2014

please blame the parents of these kids for sending them unaccompanied over dangerous terrain and in very high temperatures . THAT is totally unconscionable !

We could not predict this human catastrophe or its size . We are doing all that is possicle under the given circumstances . You cannot expect them to be put up in first class hotels . They have a roof over their heads , food and water , and that is all that can be expected .

Its easy to criticize and complain . It is very hard to cope with an illegal onslaught like this .

TBF

(31,921 posts)
8. Thanks for the right-wing propoganda -
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 08:58 PM
Jun 2014

"illegal onslaught"

These are human beings - do we treat them as less because we consider them "illegal"? I know what the republican answer to that is.

I heard a saying once that makes a lot of sense: "Closed borders for bananas, open borders for people".

alp227

(31,961 posts)
16. KEPT in a 3-4 decision
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 09:37 PM
Jun 2014
On Fri Jun 13, 2014, 09:04 PM you sent an alert on the following post:

migrant children
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5095228

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

YOUR COMMENTS

Racist right wing talking point "illegal onslaught" that is often used on Free Republic, VDARE, etc. to describe undocumented immigrants. Just as bad as "amnesty", the reconquista conspiracy theory, etc.

JURY RESULTS

A randomly-selected Jury of DU members completed their review of this alert at Fri Jun 13, 2014, 09:17 PM, and voted 3-4 to LEAVE IT ALONE.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I see nothing racist about this - leave it
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: I agree that "illegal onslaught" isn't a very good way to phrase it.
Juror #5 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given

Thank you.

alp227

(31,961 posts)
20. Also alerted on another post here by perdita, got an 0-7 vote,
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 10:49 PM
Jun 2014

despite explaining the right wing talking points used in that post! Especially "thousands of parents shipping their offspring here and expecting America to raise them."

You know what kind of comments were in the jury pool?

" It's a dumb opinion, one of millions on the internet, even DU. No reason to hide. We can't patrol/control everything folks think or say."

"I think we can tolerate a wide variety of opinions here. I do not share his opinion but I don't want to censor it here."

"Alert Fail. Debate these points with the poster. I think they are valid, so do others down the thread."

Did they even READ the message or my explanation? Sheesh! Too many jurors have the attitudes like i just quoted.

My alert explanation:

"thousands of parents shipping their offspring here and expecting America to raise them."

"not a popular position among the lefties."

This kind of language belongs in Free Republic.

Would've been more appropriate with the just "I do not support open borders" part.

But painting immigrants as a bunch of "takers"...by saying they are "expecting America to raise" their kids...that's the Fox News strategy right there. It's way worse at Free Republic or Discussionist when they start using loaded terms like welfare, gangs, etc.

noiretextatique

(27,275 posts)
29. what utter bullshit...they are children
Sat Jun 14, 2014, 01:11 PM
Jun 2014

This is not about "blame." They are children who need to be taken care of properly.

 

jberryhill

(62,444 posts)
2. Right wing "amnesty propaganda" at work
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 06:51 PM
Jun 2014

The sick aspect of this situation is that Fox News "amnesty" bullshit was used by the coyotes to lure a whole crop of customers.

Somebody made a fortune here.

treestar

(82,383 posts)
14. Yes, since none of them are eligible for DREAM ACT treatment
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 09:12 PM
Jun 2014

Not if they just got here. But coyotes may have convinced people that as children, they would be able to stay.

perdita9

(1,142 posts)
5. We have our own poor to take care of
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 07:50 PM
Jun 2014

Yes, I support immigration reform but I do not support open borders. I really don't support thousands of parents shipping their offspring here and expecting America to raise them.

Feel free to call me unsympathetic. I know it's not a popular position among the lefties.

 

7962

(11,841 posts)
7. But you're right. Something is up with this many all of a sudden showing up
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 08:54 PM
Jun 2014

We CANNOT continue to absorb a free stream of illegals into the country. If it continues, we can forget about union wages anymore. Too many looking for too little work.
Open borders will destroy what unions have worked to build over the past decades.

TBF

(31,921 posts)
9. What unions?
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 09:00 PM
Jun 2014

Seriously the republicans have already destroyed any organized labor we have in this country ... at this point I welcome any number of workers who will come because it gives us a better chance against the owners.


 

7962

(11,841 posts)
10. How do you figure?? MORE workers competing for the same jobs means LESS pay.
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 09:02 PM
Jun 2014

Yes, unions are smaller than in the past, but they're still around.

TBF

(31,921 posts)
19. My view is that US labor needs to band
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 10:40 PM
Jun 2014

together with labor worldwide to fight back against the global capitalists.

It doesn't matter where people live anymore. It doesn't matter if more people come to the US - the billionaires will still outsource if they can find cheaper labor elsewhere. We can build a big fence around the country to keep everyone out - but it won't stop global capitalists from taking the job elsewhere. They have the money and power to do so and we aren't doing anything to stop them.

The only way to fight them is to realize there are more of us than them and start hitting them with sit-down strikes that hurt their production, etc.

nomorenomore08

(13,324 posts)
22. +1
Sat Jun 14, 2014, 12:24 AM
Jun 2014

But of course, that would require actually giving a shit about someone other than oneself... Something Americans don't seem too good at...

TBF

(31,921 posts)
26. Sadly our culture is much different here than Europe
Sat Jun 14, 2014, 07:43 AM
Jun 2014

and that "individualism" thing has been taken to an ugly extreme. Like you I have the feeling this country would veer towards fascism much more quickly than solidarity.

zeemike

(18,998 posts)
11. Well I support open borders but not immigration reform
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 09:08 PM
Jun 2014

Because it don't need to be reformed...it is not the problem.

The problem is that you can come here illegally and find a job for under the counter money...and so that is what attracts them...for economic reasons.
And the solution is quite simple really, start putting people in jail for doing it...the employer not the victim...let the victum go his way, stay as long as he can with no economic incentive...
Take those children to be re united with their relitives...let them stay togather...if they have legal jobs the kids will be taken care of and they can stay as long as they can.

And I am sure that this will not be popular either.

alp227

(31,961 posts)
17. "thousands of parents shipping their offspring here and expecting America to raise them"
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 09:38 PM
Jun 2014

"not a popular position among the lefties"

You sure you on the right forum? And c'mon, those "thousands of parents" coming to America aren't expecting a handout...they're picking your fruit, cleaning your workplace, flipping your burgers, you name that dirty work while hoping for a better opportunity for their kids!

treestar

(82,383 posts)
13. How do they get across the border?
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 09:10 PM
Jun 2014

I always heard that was very difficult to do. So how does a kid do it alone?

nomorenomore08

(13,324 posts)
23. A good deal of the border around the Southwest is basically wilderness. Difficult to patrol.
Sat Jun 14, 2014, 12:27 AM
Jun 2014

Combine that with the desperation of people fleeing dire poverty, and inevitably a certain number will find a way in.

treestar

(82,383 posts)
27. I saw a movie once
Sat Jun 14, 2014, 12:23 PM
Jun 2014

which is admittedly fiction, but the kid was about 10 and hid in a car.

In reality, I guess it could be easier for a kid to smuggle themselves in some way - easier to hide.

Spouting Horn

(338 posts)
15. Just think
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 09:30 PM
Jun 2014

when their parents eventually get here, how many hundreds of thousands of Democratic voters we will have? #turntexasblue baby!!

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
21. A refugee crisis. Do we know if this is the description that is most correct? What is the crisis
Fri Jun 13, 2014, 11:56 PM
Jun 2014

that is sending these children here? If this is indeed a refugee crisis then we need to treat it like we expect the rest of the world to treat their refugees. They need adequate shelter and clothes, food and medical care as well as ongoing education. These are the things our country - often through charitable organizations including churches tries to establish in other situations.


I think that the closed military camps that President Obama has decided could be opened is a good first step. But they have been closed and no doubt they are in poor condition. I think there are also warehouses full of surplus items from the government including furniture, blankets, etc. that could easily be put to work in this situation. Clothes - we have warehouses full of clothing in every Salvation Army location and if they do not have enough there is also Goodwill. I know that DU does not especially like these two organizations but I have been through a flood when they replaced every single item we lost. I can assure you that we were glad for the help and NO they did not make us pray for the items. Medical care could be provided by many of those students we have been talking about here on DU who could work their loans off by helping in this situation. The same with education. Finally food seems to me to be a bigger problem because many of the programs we have for feeding the needy are like Second Harvest which gives you item that you have to cook. It seems to me that some project similar to hot lunches where cooks prepare meals for the children would be a better approach but who is going to do it? That is the problem.

I cannot see our rethug congress providing for any of this help. I wonder if we are even going to try?

Kablooie

(18,571 posts)
25. How do these kids get here? They couldn't have walked from South America.
Sat Jun 14, 2014, 02:37 AM
Jun 2014

Are trucks bringing them?
And what about their families?
Who is sending them?

ohheckyeah

(9,314 posts)
28. Probably they are getting here
Sat Jun 14, 2014, 12:55 PM
Jun 2014

like many of the children from Mexico have - they ride on the top of trains. Some use coyotes to get to the border.

According to what I've read, many of them have family here - a parent who left Central America hoping to make enough to send for their kids.

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