The U.S.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is
supposed to help communities that are facing natural
disasters like hurricanes and floods. But the Trump
administration just announced it is planning to use FEMA in order to give
$608 million to U.S. states — not for weather-related
emergencies, but to build even more detention camps to
lock immigrants in.
This comes at the
same time that the administration is also trying to
cut $1 billion from FEMA funds for local first
responders, preparation for actual natural disasters,
and cybersecurity improvements. You know, the things
FEMA is actually supposed to do.
These
detention centers are not jails. They are not intended
for criminals, and exist outside of the criminal justice
system. People do not go here after having a chance to
plead their case to a judge. They are also not
deportations. Deportations were already cruel and often
happening without due process, but detentions are a
whole different story.
In this case, people don't
even get to have their freedom. They're not sent out
of the country — but kept in the U.S. indefinitely,
locked up in camps with overcrowding, unsanitary
conditions, no due process, and lack of medical care.
They don't know when they'll get out. They don't
know what will happen to them afterwards. They only know
that they're being held against their
will.
And Trump wants U.S. states to build
many, many more of these facilities. He's been very
clear that the reason is because he wants to increase
the number of immigrants captured and held captive —
again, neither truly imprisoned, nor deported.
Just... kept. In camps. For who knows how long.
There is no
way that, as human beings with consciences, we can
possibly accept or condone such obvious cruelty. We
absolutely MUST speak out now. Sign the petition to demand
an end to FEMA's "detention support grant
program"!
