3 REASONS WHY I THINK WE SHOULD ABOLISH I.C.E. AND YOU SHOULD TO
Separating families is the game, I.C.E. is their name.
Let me paint a picture for you. In my sophomore year of college at Colorado State University (go rams), I was awoken by a call, my mother was on the other line worried because my dad had been pulled over. Now you may be thinking that there is nothing much to this but at the time he was driving without a license because he was not eligible for one in the state of Colorado, this meant he would have to present himself in court and go through that.
At the same time, there had been multiple stories and incidents of I.C.E. (Immigration and customs enforcement) agents in the waiting rooms, lobys, and halls of the Denver justice center. They were there to shout the names of alleged undocumented immigrants and when they reacted they would take them away and start deportation proceedings.
How does that make you feel? How did that make me feel?
I spiraled. The thought of my father getting taken away for something that he had no control over. For a citation that was deemed necessary to continue life and provide for his family.
I shook over the thought of having to share the same fate as my mother, not being able to see her dad for 18 years.
I knew many people whose families had suffered the same fate. Friends and families getting their loved ones taken away for a routine court appointment.
No One should have to suffer this.
Thankfully we were able to have a lawyer represent my dad in court and avoid that interaction.
Here are 4 reasons you may want to consider advocating for the abolishment of ICE
I.C.E Violates Human rights.
Since its inception, I.C.E has been known to violate the human rights of those detained and its detention centers have been described as “Hell on Earth”. In the Pine Prairie detention center in Louisiana Detainees have described the water as undrinkable as it comes out white and black at times. Some detainees even report not drinking anything until their 1 meal a day. (Robert F. Kennedy Human Right Center)
Pine prairie Detention center has been said to use solitary confinement as “medical treatment” and have been known to put detainees in Solitary for up to 20 days. Under international human rights laws solitary over 15 days is considered torture.
. The agency has also been the subject of more than 1,200 complaints of sexual and physical abuse. (American Friends Service Committee)
Big ass Budgets for what
As of today, I.C.E. has a budget of $7.98 Billion…. BILLION (Source, DHS)
What could you do with that?
$657 million - end homelessness in Los Angeles (LAist)
$200 Million - End Homelessness in Denver (Denver Post)
At a cost of $20,592,200 you could build 334 new schools across the US (RS Means Data)
These are just some examples of what could be done instead of funding I.C.E.
I.C.E. Kills
In 2020 alone 21 people dies in ICE Custody. The largest increase in deaths in 15 years. Not to mention the irresponsible treatment of health care.
a heart attack after 171 days at the Denver Contract Detention Facility. It reportedly took nearly one hour for someone at the facility to call 911 after a code blue emergency was activated. Mandza was 46 years old.
This past May, Carlos Ernesto Escobar Mejia became the first person in ICE detention to die of Covid-19 at Otay Mesa Detention Center. In his final days, the men with Carlos Ernesto tried repeatedly to alert officials of his deteriorating condition and get him to the hospital, but they were ignored. Mejia was 57 years old.
WHAT CAN YOU DO
Stop your local government, sheriff, and offices from aiding in the information process. ICE Relies on local offices to report alleged undocumented immigrants.
Adopt an abolishment mentality
Stand for Immigrants. Use your privilege and voice to shout these injustices into places and groups that may not be subject to them.
Voting is low on this list because that is the bare minimum. Use your voting power to choose leaders that take an abolished ICE mentality.
Donate to credible lawyers, and organizations, and directly to people affected by ICE.
I can’t vote. I make it known where I stand so get your ass up and do something.
Brayan AKA YAMZ
