S.F. immigrant group criticizes Biden over detention centers
Carecen SF, a resource and advocacy organization focused on helping Latinos and immigrants, condemned the Biden administration Tuesday after the New York Times reported the administration is considering locking up families in detention centers at the U.S.Mexico border.
In its statement, Carecen said it is “horrified” that Biden is considering the return of family detention, saying “a humanitarian crisis requires a humanitarian response.” The statement said that lawyers from Carecen SF provided legal help to families detained during the Trump and Obama administrations and saw children who were malnourished, emotionally scarred and crying in pain because of lack of medical attention.
“The solution is simple — give families seeking protection paperwork advising them to go to court and seek asylum. Detention is a waste of money and lives,” Carecen SF said.
President Joe Biden shut down the practice of detaining families crossing the border illegally at the beginning of his term two years ago because he wanted a more humane immigration system, according to the Times.
“The fact that the Biden Administration is considering this move after all the promises and claims Biden made while on the campaign trail demonstrate that he is caving in to the far right’s need to scapegoat people seeking safety for the ailments of the country,” the statement read.
However, the Times outlined how the administration would face challenges in reinstating the controversial policy.
The spaces that previously were used to hold families are now used only for single adults and the facilities would need to be set up to provide children with educational programs and playgrounds.