Indefensible: What To Do Now--And Later--To Help Children Detained At the Border

Last week, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez referred to some of our nation’s border detention facilities–where people are being held indefinitely in small spaces with little food, water or access to care or legal representation–as concentration camps. The next day, I was at the gym, watching side-by-side screens featuring different news networks. All had the captions on. Most days, I let my eyes bounce back and forth to witness the rhythmic discord between opposite ends of the echo chamber. But this time, I was focused on FOX News entirely. The commentators were discussing Ocasio-Cortez’ comments; calling her “ignorant,” “uneducated,” and other kinds of things that people call women of color who speak uncomfortable truths. But that’s for another post…

They went round and round, calling her out on many different levels for using such harsh language… but they never discussed the reality of conditions at the border.

Over the weekend, multiple reports blew open grotesque and alarming details about the facilities in which minors–separated from their parents– are being held. Reports of babies and toddlers without diapers; children as young as 8 being responsible for the younger ones; inadequate food and water; overcrowding and little time outside; groups of children huddled to sleep on concrete floors with no bedding or real blankets… It was, and is, horrifying. This is not other places. This is us, our own American backyard. On our watch, on our tax dollar.