Martin O'Malley slams feds for tossing immigrant families in ‘internment camps’

[bigtree]

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley has made the jailing of vulnerable populations a campaign issue. More specifically, the Democratic presidential hopeful is urging the U.S. to stop jailing immigrant families in immigration detention centers.

The US is a welcoming, compassionate country yet we insist on jailing vulnerable women and children. Why didn't @DHSgov #EndFamilyDetention?
— Martin O'Malley (@MartinOMalley) August 7, 2015

“Detaining refugee mothers and their children in internment camps is contrary to everything for which our country is supposed to stand,” O’Malley said in a statement sent to Fusion via email. “I urge the Administration to agree to the judge’s request to place all refugee mothers and their children into the homes of their relatives or into foster care.”

The ACLU and a number of other immigrant rights groups have compared the family detention facilities to internment camps that incarcerated Japanese-Americans. “More than anything else, Dilley feels like an updated version of these [World War II incarceration camps]” wrote Carl Takei, a staff attorney at ACLU National Prison Project, in a story earlier this year.

ICYMI: I visited #Dilley #familydetention. It's no summer camp–it's an internment camp. https://t.co/h2pVg4PAww pic.twitter.com/sXjZLYysU4
— Carl Takei (@carltakei) May 28, 2015

O’Malley’s comments come two weeks after a federal judge in California ordered the Obama administration immediately release of children and their mothers caught entering the U.S. illegally...

“As we did in Maryland, I call on a broad coalition of patriotic Americans –faith leaders as well as legal, health care, educational, religious, and non-profit leaders to help shepherd these vulnerable lives through our asylum process with love and compassion,” O’Malley said.

“We are Americans. We are a generous and compassionate people. We must not turn our back on those most in need,” said O’Malley.


read more: http://fusion.net/story/179831/presidential-candidate-martin-omalley-slams-feds-immigrant-family-detention/

related:

This is the O'Malley immigration plan Latino activists and immigration advocates are cheering
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251447110

That Time Martin O'Malley Stood Up For Border Kids When It Mattered
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251437721

Good look at what Governor O'Malley did to find housing for border children in Maryland:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/maryland-solicits-foster-parents-for-migrant-youths-as-omalley-meets-with-faith-leaders/2014/07/28/6a489d5a-1672-11e4-9e3b-7f2f110c6265_story.html

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports more than 2,000 children have been relocated to Maryland in the first six months of this year (2014).
http://www.wbal.com/article/108816/12/omalley-holding-second-meeting-with-clergy-on-immigrant-children

[Vattel]

1. This is my main reason for wanting OMalley in the primary. He is the voice of reason and decency on

immigration issues. If it weren't for his record on certain other issues, he would be my top choice in the primary. As it is, he is my second choice, and I would happily vote for him in the general.

[FSogol]

2. K&R. n/t

[annabanana]

3. ICE

is a rogue agency. Does not seem to answer to the administration at all...

[bigtree]

4. interesting view

...they fall under DHS.

wiki:

ICE is led by a Director who is appointed at the sub-Cabinet level by the President of the United States, confirmed by the Senate, and reports directly to the Secretary of Homeland Security.

But what you say rings true because of their "statutory authority to enforce the Immigration and Nationality Act (Title 8), U.S. customs laws (Title 19), general federal crimes (Title 18), the Controlled Substances Act (Title 21), as well as Titles 5, 6, 12, 22, 26, 28, 31, 46, 49, and 50 of the U.S. Code. HSI has more than 6,500 Special Agents, making it the largest investigative entity in the Department of Homeland Security and the second largest in the federal government."

[annabanana]

5. They OFFICIALLY fall under DHS

They do not operate that way

(If you smell something, say something)

[bigtree]

7. I would guess they respond more to Congress

...because their funding trough resides there, and are wary of bucking that source of money which is decidedly more conservative on their conduct than the WH.

here's an interesting dynamic which was revealed recently:

WASHINGTON -- Last Friday, immigration advocates met with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Sarah Saldaña and brought up some concerns, including a surprising statement she made the day before that seemed wholly at odds with the administration's policies.

Saldaña had said at a House hearing that it would be helpful for Congress to pass a law requiring police to hold immigrants for ICE. That came as a shock to those who follow the issue, since the administration has spent months trying to repair relations with localities that resist detaining people on ICE's behalf.

ICE issued a statement under Saldaña's name on Friday, not long before the meeting with advocates, reversing her remarks and saying such legislation would be "highly counterproductive."

Inside the meeting, according to some of those in attendance, Saldaña said she was surprised her comments had caused concerns, and tried to explain them. Johnson interjected and read aloud from her public statement, people in the room said.

"That was a very awkward moment," said one attendee, who requested anonymity to discuss the off-the-record meeting. Another summed up Johnson's interruption in a single word: "Ouch." ICE did not comment on the meeting.

The moment encapsulated the concerns some immigration reform advocates are having with ICE in the months following President Barack Obama's executive actions on immigration. Advocates are relieved to get some policies they've long requested, but some of that relief has faded into questions over how those policies are being implemented. And Saldaña's comments last week, even if quickly reversed, bred concerns among advocates that she is either unaware of, or disagrees with, administration policy...

read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/26/immigration-and-customs-enforcement-director_n_6949714.html

[salib]

6. O'Malley is proving to be a great advocate.

We really should be pleased as we have a great collection of candidates.