AOC says migrants forced to drink toilet water after tense border visit

[NOVA Green]

Remember. In no way are these camps.

This is downright disgusting to see the "Land of the Free and Home of Brave" treat fellow humans in this fashion, regardless of legal residency status.

tbf... not all of this is Trump's responsibility since it goes back to decades of US policy, since at least the era of Ronald Reagan, (and quite possibly US Foreign Policy going back to the '50s/'60s indirectly).

Massive flights of Central Americans fleeing Fascist governments in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras fled toward El Norte and the Reagan Administration tried to slam the doors shut.

The Catholic Church, the Central American Solidarity Movement, and even an "underground railroad" attempted to provide safe haven for refugees fleeing brutal wars and oppression in their home countries.

Reagan slashed gvt funding for processing "asylum seekers" and essentially deported tens of thousands of individuals back to likely death in their home countries.

Gvt funding for dealing with immigrants coming from South of the border has been slashed for decades....

When I lived in TX back around '13-16, many of my Latino friends in the workplace would talk about how "Obama was a deporter in chief", even while I am trying to encourage DACAs to go through the process.

I posted a few comments on Atlas about this around '13-'14?


Don't get me wrong, and me and my wife were and are big supporters of Obama with his overall agenda, hearing stories about how one of her co-workers husband was deported back to Mexico although they have three kids together, because they got in an argument one Night and he went to a bar and got pulled over for a DUI (Which qualified as "violent illegal" under Obama era deportation policies even as first time offense with nobody injured), seemed whey OTT considering how common drinking and driving was in TX for Anglos (Many of y'all hate that term I know. ) that had done much worse.

This is disgusting and a national disgrace, and I am not an apologist for Trump, but I really hope faith based communities respond with the heart of America to what is an obvious Human Rights Crisis at the Southern border....

[NOVA Green]

Apparently someone else experienced different conditions: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/immigration-border-facility-aoc-hispanic

“We found no soiled diapers, no deplorable conditions and no lack of basic necessities,” Rodriguez remarked, adding he specifically asked border agents if they staged the facility in response to the negative press. “They unequivocally denied it — we were witnessing the identical conditions the attorneys saw when they toured the facility days earlier."

In fact, some told him the sources from whom the negative coverage originated “never toured the areas of the facility that we toured” and speculated they might have had political motivations.

Fox News called up the facility: "Hey guys, can we send some blindly faithful Republican pastors to you in a day or two to say the Democrats are liars, and can you clean the place up real good between now and then? We can own the libs while you get the media off your back. Win win."

All the liberal representatives from the first trip collectively lied as a political conspiracy? Some of these women are Bernie progressives, not Republican swamp monsters. They actually have integrity. This conspiracy theory is laughable and sad.

Nowhere does it say that they are Republicans. Also this is a pastor who's battled with Trump over immigration. He also advised Obama on immigration reform.

“I read the reports, saw the news clips. I just wanted to see what was actually happening in order to better enable our efforts to find a fair and a just solution to our broken immigration system," Rodriguez, who has advised President Trump and both Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush on immigration reform, noted. “To my surprise, I saw something drastically different from the stories I’ve been hearing in our national discourse. Even as a veteran of immigration advocacy in the U.S., I was shocked at the misinformation of the crisis at the border."

The pastors left encouraged by the commitment and dedication of America’s Border Patrol and immigration officers, “many of which are Latinos, by the way.” He said one emotional Border Patrol agent turned to him and said, referring to the vilification: “Pastor Sam, what they’re saying about us is completely false. We care about these kids and have a passion for our calling.”

Pastor Carlos Moran, NHCLC board member and immigrant, said, “we, as evangelical leaders that serve in different segments, are very committed to helping children regardless of their status and we commend those officers that are trying their very best to serve and fulfill their duty at the border. However, we do call on our political leaders to set aside their personal agendas and begin focusing on resolving this immigration crisis.”

“What's heart-wrenching is that we have both Republicans and Democrats alike in Congress, who can't come together for the purpose of doing the right thing and finding a solution to our immigration crisis,” he said. “Please, President Trump, please White House, work with the Republicans and the Democrats [and] please, please, please, please, Nancy Pelosi, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, please come together to solve this crisis, immediately.”

Also it's hilarious that you think any current politician has integrity.

Bolded relevant quote:

Yes it is absolutely correct that many of the Border Patrol Officers on the Rio Grande border are Latino and not necessarily huge fans of what they see in these "detention facilities".

Decent paying jobs are hard to find in South Tejas border areas, let alone Federal Union jobs with all of the attendant perks when it comes to Federal retirement benefits and the like.

We are not talking about a privatized prison in Texas, and the vast majority of those working at these facilities are not racist KKK members, let alone sadists that deliberately torture and hurt others.

We are talking about a workforce that is heavily Mexican-American, many of whom with US Military service records, largely Catholic frequently drawn from local communities with deep roots in the Rio Grande Valley when the "Borderlands" was simply a place where families would visit each other on both sides of the border without any walls or passport controls.

This is a *political crisis* caused by decades of US Foreign Policy decisions in Central America by Democratic and Republican political leaders alike, combined with slashing funding for asylum seekers starting under Reagan.

It is no wonder that the Faith based community, including many evangelicals are starting to speak up on this issue..... Evangelical Protestant missionary activity in Central America has shifted the composition of Central American immigration to the US, where now some of highest % of Protestant immigrants from the countries where the "push-pull" factor is most evident.

Why do people leave their native land and family network?      (Push)

Why do people choose to seek a better opportunity?                (Pull)

Obviously one must ask the question as to why US Immigration quotas are still set by Country, rather than by the status of the asylum seeker's case?

In Cold War Policy, there were only a handful of "asylum seekers" allowed from Salvador / Guatemala, and Honduras (Fascist strong-men Juntas) vs many more from countries such as Cuba / Nicaragua  (Fleeing Communist oppression!).

I don't blame the workers involved.... most of whom are likely trying to do the best job they can with limited resources that still have to go home to their family when they got off-shift and talk to their spouse and kids and answer the question: "Daddy how was work today?"

I blame a broken system, and these types of topics remind me of some 30-35 Years ago when the Central American Solidarity Movement was at it's peak....

My 3rd Generation Grandparents on my Fathers side would turn over in their grave watching stories like this treatment of immigrants leaving the "Old Country" from humble means to seek opportunity in America....

Here is a snippet from one of my favorite bands The Pogues---- Song "Thousands Are Sailing", which I own multiple versions of.....

The island, it is silent now
But the ghosts still haunt the waves
And the torch lights up a famished man
Who fortune could not save
Did you work upon the railroads?
Did you rid the streets of crime?
Were your dollars from the White House?
Were they from the five and dime?
Did the old songs taunt or cheer you
And did they still make you cry?
Did you count the months and years
Or did your teardrops quickly dry?
Ah, no, says he, 'twas not to be
On a coffin ship, I came here
And I never even got so far
That they could change my name
Thousands are sailing
Across the western ocean
To a land of opportunity
That some of them will never see
Fortune prevailing
Across the western ocean
Their bellies full, their spirits free
They'll break the chains of poverty

[NOVA Green]

Apparently someone else experienced different conditions: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/immigration-border-facility-aoc-hispanic

“We found no soiled diapers, no deplorable conditions and no lack of basic necessities,” Rodriguez remarked, adding he specifically asked border agents if they staged the facility in response to the negative press. “They unequivocally denied it — we were witnessing the identical conditions the attorneys saw when they toured the facility days earlier."

In fact, some told him the sources from whom the negative coverage originated “never toured the areas of the facility that we toured” and speculated they might have had political motivations.

Fox News called up the facility: "Hey guys, can we send some blindly faithful Republican pastors to you in a day or two to say the Democrats are liars, and can you clean the place up real good between now and then? We can own the libs while you get the media off your back. Win win."

All the liberal representatives from the first trip collectively lied as a political conspiracy? Some of these women are Bernie progressives, not Republican swamp monsters. They actually have integrity. This conspiracy theory is laughable and sad.

Nowhere does it say that they are Republicans. Also this is a pastor who's battled with Trump over immigration. He also advised Obama on immigration reform.

“I read the reports, saw the news clips. I just wanted to see what was actually happening in order to better enable our efforts to find a fair and a just solution to our broken immigration system," Rodriguez, who has advised President Trump and both Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush on immigration reform, noted. “To my surprise, I saw something drastically different from the stories I’ve been hearing in our national discourse. Even as a veteran of immigration advocacy in the U.S., I was shocked at the misinformation of the crisis at the border."

The pastors left encouraged by the commitment and dedication of America’s Border Patrol and immigration officers, “many of which are Latinos, by the way.” He said one emotional Border Patrol agent turned to him and said, referring to the vilification: “Pastor Sam, what they’re saying about us is completely false. We care about these kids and have a passion for our calling.”

Pastor Carlos Moran, NHCLC board member and immigrant, said, “we, as evangelical leaders that serve in different segments, are very committed to helping children regardless of their status and we commend those officers that are trying their very best to serve and fulfill their duty at the border. However, we do call on our political leaders to set aside their personal agendas and begin focusing on resolving this immigration crisis.”

“What's heart-wrenching is that we have both Republicans and Democrats alike in Congress, who can't come together for the purpose of doing the right thing and finding a solution to our immigration crisis,” he said. “Please, President Trump, please White House, work with the Republicans and the Democrats [and] please, please, please, please, Nancy Pelosi, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, please come together to solve this crisis, immediately.”

Also it's hilarious that you think any current politician has integrity.

Bolded relevant quote:

Yes it is absolutely correct that many of the Border Patrol Officers on the Rio Grande border are Latino and not necessarily huge fans of what they see in these "detention facilities".

Decent paying jobs are hard to find in South Tejas border areas, let alone Federal Union jobs with all of the attendant perks when it comes to Federal retirement benefits and the like.

We are not talking about a privatized prison in Texas, and the vast majority of those working at these facilities are not racist KKK members, let alone sadists that deliberately torture and hurt others.

We are talking about a workforce that is heavily Mexican-American, many of whom with US Military service records, largely Catholic frequently drawn from local communities with deep roots in the Rio Grande Valley when the "Borderlands" was simply a place where families would visit each other on both sides of the border without any walls or passport controls.

This is a *political crisis* caused by decades of US Foreign Policy decisions in Central America by Democratic and Republican political leaders alike, combined with slashing funding for asylum seekers starting under Reagan.

It is no wonder that the Faith based community, including many evangelicals are starting to speak up on this issue..... Evangelical Protestant missionary activity in Central America has shifted the composition of Central American immigration to the US, where now some of highest % of Protestant immigrants from the countries where the "push-pull" factor is most evident.

Why do people leave their native land and family network?      (Push)

Why do people choose to seek a better opportunity?                (Pull)

Obviously one must ask the question as to why US Immigration quotas are still set by Country, rather than by the status of the asylum seeker's case?

In Cold War Policy, there were only a handful of "asylum seekers" allowed from Salvador / Guatemala, and Honduras (Fascist strong-men Juntas) vs many more from countries such as Cuba / Nicaragua  (Fleeing Communist oppression!).

I don't blame the workers involved.... most of whom are likely trying to do the best job they can with limited resources that still have to go home to their family when they got off-shift and talk to their spouse and kids and answer the question: "Daddy how was work today?"

I blame a broken system, and these types of topics remind me of some 30-35 Years ago when the Central American Solidarity Movement was at it's peak....

My 3rd Generation Grandparents on my Fathers side would turn over in their grave watching stories like this treatment of immigrants leaving the "Old Country" from humble means to seek opportunity in America....

Here is a snippet from one of my favorite bands The Pogues---- Song "Thousands Are Sailing", which I own multiple versions of.....

The island, it is silent now
But the ghosts still haunt the waves
And the torch lights up a famished man
Who fortune could not save
Did you work upon the railroads?
Did you rid the streets of crime?
Were your dollars from the White House?
Were they from the five and dime?
Did the old songs taunt or cheer you
And did they still make you cry?
Did you count the months and years
Or did your teardrops quickly dry?
Ah, no, says he, 'twas not to be
On a coffin ship, I came here
And I never even got so far
That they could change my name
Thousands are sailing
Across the western ocean
To a land of opportunity
That some of them will never see
Fortune prevailing
Across the western ocean
Their bellies full, their spirits free
They'll break the chains of poverty

Apologies for quoting myself, but breaking news today from Border Patrol Officers working in the facility, show that workers in the facility reported it to the "top brass", but there was no action.

Now, we have Border Patrol officers that are essentially "whistle blowers" reporting on unsafe and inhumane conditions inside these "Detention Facilities".

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/07/06/us/migrants-border-patrol-clint.html

As, I stated I suspected it would not be long before the Faith Based Community would mobilize on this topic....

Mike Pence is now going to the border....

My Father is a White Evangelical Christian, and I have had family members doing missionary work in Latin America.

Regardless of how those on this thread chose to defend what is going on, (And I don't see it as just a DEM-REP issue), these types are policies are not in the moral compass of America as most of us understand our own country.

Should my ancestors from Ireland have been turned away in New York Harbor because of poverty and oppression in Ireland?

Should Jewish refugees from Nazism (and potential deportation from Fascist Nations) been turned away in New York?

Unless America addresses the push/pull factors, it's increasingly looking like we are a self-centered nation, morally bankrupt, and has compromised all of our ideals, simply because it's so much easier to beat up on the less fortunate fleeing oppression, than it is to look at *WHY* people are willing to make such a desperate journey. (If you think it's all about the money, you are wrong).

[NOVA Green]

Haven't seen any posts on this on the current thread, nor another that provides an update of the Pence visit to a "detention facility" in McAllen TX..

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/pence-tours-detention-facilities-at-the-border-defends-administrations-treatment-of-migrants/2019/07/12/993f54e0-a4bc-11e9-b8c8-75dae2607e60_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.06651aae1d56

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/no-shower-no-shower-migrants-shout-pence-visits-texas-detention-n1029426

https://www.apnews.com/b86e9b1944b84a729ccdb77f59d356d3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4SLene7TxU

Amazing that Pence shows up on a Friday, and all of the visual images reinforce the fact that US FED and Local LEA are treating asylum seekers in conditions that appears to violate the whole UN Convention on Human Rights that the US Gvt crafted back in the day....

Pence is supposed to be a representative of the Evangelical Christian movement within the Republican Party, from a state with a significant Catholic Minority population.

His border tour appeared a disaster in terms of the optics to explain to the Faith Based Community about why we are treating people fleeing violence and economic poverty in their own counties at least decent conditions while we consider their political asylum status.

Reality is that the current wave of migrants from Central America are fleeing Counties decimated as a result of Cold War politics and repression from the elites in places such as Guatemala, Honduras where essentially Fascist "Strongmen" ran the roost.

A large % of the current Migra population are actually Protestant Evangelical Christians, because of decades of Missionary work over the past 30 years within the region.

Regardless, you can go to any large community in America or in smaller communities, and might well listen to songs drifting over the stereo to an artist from Guatemala that has sold 80 Million "records" worldwide.

Had the pleasure of seeing him live in Houston TX to a packed House....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Arjona

So here's a YouTube video from his '05 Album with the song "Mojado" which raised the house in Houston....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37XEYep0rvM

Now... encourage all of you to purchase his music, as I have done.... so here's a link in case anybody thinks I'm trying to swipe his English translation w/o permiso.

https://www.amazon.com/Adentro-Ricardo-Arjona/dp/B00Q6CFEKC/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=ricardo+arjona+adentro+cd&qid=1562989427&s=gateway&sr=8-1

But here is an English language translation of a song from an artist who came from poverty, who did a compare contrast in a beautiful language in original Spanish using the derogatory racist terms of the past as a humanization of those who were forced to flee bcs of the neglect of America after the Cold War, following decades of supporting Feudalistic policies for the "Old Spanish Families" who owned most of the land and wealth in Central America.

This is actually a song that many of y'all that like Country music might well appreciate, although granted it's singing in Spanish and not English.... Folk Songs are folks songs.... let 'em roll

Song:

Wetback
He packed a pair of shirts, a hat
His vocation of adventurer, six tips, seven photos
A thousand memories
 
He packed his desires to remain
His condition to transform himself
into the man he has dreamed of
But has not achieved
 
Said goodbye with a grimace disguised as a smile
And he pleaded with his God crucified on the shelf
The preservation of what is his
 
And he penetrated the border
However he could
 
If the smooth moon slips
Through whichever cornice
Without permission from anyone
 
Why does the wetback need
to prove with visas
that he is not from Neptune?
 
The wetback wants to dry himself
The wetback is wet with tears caused by nostalgia
The wetback, the undocumented
Carries a weight that the documented wouldn't carry
Even if obligated
 
The search for a paper turned him into a fugitive
And he isn't from here because his names doesn't appear
in the archives
Neither is he from other there (home) because he left
 
If the smooth moon slips
Through whichever cornice
Without permission from anyone
 
Why does the wetback need
to prove with visas
that he is not from Neptune?
 
Wetback
Your truth tastes like a lie
Your anxiety tastes like sadness
To see a freeway and dream with a road
That leads you to your home
 
Wetback, wet from crying so much
Knowing in another place
Waits a kiss that's been on pause
Since the day that you left
 
If the smooth moon slips
Through whichever cornice
Without permission from anyone
 
Why does the wetback need
to prove with visas
that he is not from Neptune?
 
If the universal visa extends
from the day we're born
and expires at death
why do they chase you, wetback
if the consul of the heavens
already gave you permission
https://lyricstranslate.com/en/mojado-wetback.html