Under the Trump administration, Biden was constantly decrying “kids in cages,” but it looks like tables have turned as the Biden administration will reopen the child migrant detention facility in Texas.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said strong words against the Biden administration after news surfaced that it is reopening a child migrant detention facility in Texas.
The Democratic representative wrote on Twitter last Tuesday, “This is not okay, never has been okay, never will be okay – no matter the administration or party.”
Our immigration system is built on a carceral framework. It’s no accident that challenging how we approach both these issues are considered “controversial” stances.
They require reimagining our relationship to each other and challenging common assumptions we take for granted.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 23, 2021
Ocasio-Cortez also added, “It’s only 2 mos into this admin & our fraught, unjust immigration system will not transform in that time. That’s why bold reimagination is so impt. DHS shouldn’t exist, agencies should be reorganized, ICE gotta go, ban for-profit detention, create climate refugee status & more.”
It’s only 2 mos into this admin & our fraught, unjust immigration system will not transform in that time.
That’s why bold reimagination is so impt.
DHS shouldn’t exist, agencies should be reorganized, ICE gotta go, ban for-profit detention, create climate refugee status & more.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 23, 2021
Meanwhile, another Democratic representative, Rep. Ilhan Omar, posted on Twitter, saying, “Multiple administrations have made the callous choice to lock up thousands of children seeking refuge in the United States of America.”
Multiple administrations have made the callous choice to lock up thousands of children seeking refuge in the United States of America.
As long as we see people seeking a better life as “aliens” instead of fellow human beings, our immigration system will continue to fail us. https://t.co/xE1lmgSnJj
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 24, 2021
Omar added, “As long as we see people seeking a better life as ‘aliens’ instead of fellow human beings, our immigration system will continue to fail us.”
The child migrant detention center located in Carrizo Springs is reopening after the former administration used the facility during the migrant crisis that occurred in 2019.
According to a Washington Post report, the facility is being reopened to accommodate 700 minor teenagers after the coronavirus pandemic limited the capacities of other facilities.
Said news raised a series of questions about how Biden would handle the expected influx of unaccompanied children in the country’s southern border.
Just for the record, the Biden Administration IS separating children and parents, and building trailer park cages to hold those children. Where is the outrage from the left. We will interpret your silence as confirmation you never actually cared about kids ‘in cages.’ @AOC https://t.co/gHFse4ZGfX
— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) February 23, 2021
During the campaign period, Biden was constantly decrying “kids in cages.” Then in 2019, Biden also reportedly told lawmakers that he would end the child migrant detention.
However, it appears like the new administration will continue to use the facility and proceed with the practice of detaining children even after criticizing the Trump administration for creating a policy that led to family separation.
Meanwhile, on Monday, a White House spokesperson told Fox News that Biden’s approach is to deal with immigration”comprehensively, fairly and humanely.” The spokesperson added, “The policy of this administration is not to expel unaccompanied children who arrive at our borders. The Border Patrol will continue to transfer unaccompanied children to the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement so they may be properly cared for in an appropriate shelter, consistent with their best interest.”
When a Fox News reporter asked the White House official was asked for details on whether children in the facility are detained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), they instead suggested asking that particular agency for details.
First migrant facility for children opens under Biden https://t.co/ADgQxIlMYU
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) February 23, 2021
White House press secretary Jen Psaki made a similar note on Tuesday, stating that the Biden administration’s policy is focused on not “expelling” unaccompanied children.
Psaki defended the reopening of the facility and said, “The process, how it works, is that Customs and Border control continue to transfer unaccompanied children to the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement.”
On Monday, Ken Cuccinelli, former Acting Deputy Homeland Security Secretary, told Fox News that any time CBP forcibly held children in custody, they were detained.
Cuccinelli said, “If they’re not free to leave, it’s detention, regardless of the nature of the facility.”
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez again tweeted on Tuesday that the U.S. immigration system was built on a “carceral framework.”
“Biden JUST Opened This Child Migrant Facility, Why?!?” (Youtube) by The Young Turks
23 Feb 2021
She wrote on Twitter, “Our immigration system is built on a carceral framework. It’s no accident that challenging how we approach both these issues are considered ‘controversial’ stances. They require reimagining our relationship to each other and challenging common assumptions we take for granted.”
