3 Florida congresswomen denied access to largest child detention center in U.S.

[babylonsister]

https://www.axios.com/florida-congresswoman-child-detention-center-hhs-21c742d7-922c-49f5-ac16-1d0f793ba9cf.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic&fbclid=IwAR37_UQjU1KXDKRifw7s_BmoQj2Qwyw9l4lD2nd3SukXfRmdlfwXLryfbG8

3 Florida congresswomen denied access to largest child detention center in U.S.

Florida Democratic Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Donna Shalala and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell were verbally denied access into the Homestead temporary shelter for unaccompanied migrant children last Monday by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Miami Herald reports.

The big picture: The congresswomen say HHS is in violation of a law passed last year that says members of Congress can’t be prevented from entering "any U.S. facility used for maintaining custody of or otherwise housing unaccompanied alien children" for oversight purposes. HHS said they require a two-week visit notification from visitors. The for-profit Homestead facility, owned by Comprehensive Health Services, is the largest shelter for migrant children in the country, as reported by NPR.

[malaise]

1. This is huge

Get thee to the greatest page - the fascists hate the rule of law

[olegramps]

15. Welcome to Trump and his comrads fascist America.

Just how far can this be allowed to go before there is a serious response? Unfortunately, the way things progressing for the authoritarians, the nation's habituary will read "While They Slept, Their Freedoms Vanished." I hope that I not around to see it, but it is getting closer with every dictatorial usurpation of basic rights that goes unchallenged by the majority.

[malaise]

20. +1,000

I can't process this madness.

[eShirl]

2. Why would they require advance notice?

hmm?

[MineralMan]

3. Because they don't want anyone to see how things actually are.

Two weeks lets them clean up their act. That's the simple explanation. It's the same reason military inspections are announced in advance. I remember all the preparations that were done at one USAF base I was at before a big-wig inspection. Nothing else got done for about two weeks, as the entire base changed almost everything about what it did normally.

I thought it was, well, strange.

[ehrnst]

41. They will give a song and dance about security preparations...

as though a visit from a rep requires the same amount of work as a visit from POTUS.

[bdamomma]

73. To make everything seem

normal, but we know better. We have some very evil people in power. Who knows what is being done in those centers, it's not good.

[Leghorn21]

4. Numerous congresspeople have been denied entry to the camps, beginning with Sen. Jeff Merkley

last June in McAllen...Sen. Nelson and Rep. Wasserman Schultz were not allowed into the Homestead camp a few days after that, and some Republican rep, forget his name, was also denied entry. It’s nothing new.

Dream scenario: every Dem (and ha ha ha, Republicans would be welcome) rep in America goes to one of these shitholes and just STANDS THERE, waiting to get in, with every national news organization training cameras on them...shine a light, man, to the exclusion of covering trump chaos/stupid shit - focus on this on-going atrocity - well, something would have to give. There’d be no way around it.

It would work, but it ain’t gonna happen, “oh well”

Have mercy

[Blues Heron]

5. yet another outrage.

The inspections must be random, and should probably include drug testing the entire staff.

It's not really a democracy without transparency.

[pandr32]

7. I agree!

[hibbing]

6. America 2019: child detention centers n/t

[OMGWTF]

8. FOR PROFIT CHILD DETENTION CENTER???? WTF???

[keithbvadu2]

21. Child trafficking pays well for Trump's pals who run the cages.

[notdarkyet]

50. Yep, it was decided before the election. I would like to see all the accounting for the kids

And where the money goes. I’ve always believed trump gets a cut, and this is a lot of money.

[Volaris]

23. It's run by a healthcare corporation. Of course it's for profit.

But yeah. What you said.

[Ferrets are Cool]

9. But what will be done?

The repugs are making up the rules as they go and no one seems to be able to stop them.

[ehrnst]

74. Well, 3 Dem congresswomen got it off to a good start with getting this all over the media.

Grassroots support will be the strongest way to get things done.

Read the OP for details on what they did.

[bluestarone]

10. And where is M$M?

They should be all over this!! SAD day in America!!!

[ehrnst]

42. Did you see that there is a link in the OP?

And did you see what it links to?

A quick Google found these:

CNN: Three members of Congress say Trump admin denying them access to facility housing unaccompanied migrant children
https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/07/politics/democrats-migrant-children-florida/index.html

3 lawmakers say they’re denied access to detention facility (Associated Press)
https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article228933934.html

Dem Reps say they were denied access to immigrant detention center
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/dem-reps-say-they-were-denied-access-to-immigrant-detention-center/ar-BBVGrSC

Trump blocks three Florida congresswomen from visiting Homestead child detention center
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article228933679.html

Congresswomen blocked from touring detention center for migrant children
https://www.local10.com/news/politics/congresswomen-blocked-from-touring-detention-center-for-migrant-children

Dem Reps say they were denied access to immigrant detention center
https://thehill.com/latino/437709-dem-reps-say-they-were-denied-access-to-immigrant-detention-center

[bluestarone]

43. I do see this BUT

I'm thinking EVERYDAY coverage! Set up cameras until this bullshit is stopped? Little coverage here and there isn't the kind of coverage i'm talking about.

[ehrnst]

48. You mean just set cameras up outside the facility every day?

Why would that impel the facility to change their policy?

It costs money to pay camera operators to stand there at the entrance every day. Who would pay them? What would they be hoping to catch?

[bluestarone]

49. Well i guess either you care or you don't care

Their choice i guess. Their cameras got to be someplace. If i were in the news business i WOULD have cameras there.

[ehrnst]

59. And we have a false dillema...

Agree with you or "one doesn't care."

"The cameras have got to be someplace."

You think that news orgs have camera people sitting around waiting for something? No, they mostly hire freelance sound and camera people to stand around waiting for something. Local news stations often do this as well. I have family members who are freelance camera operaters and sound recorders. They have to bring their own equipment, and carry their own insurance, so they charge a full/or half day rate that covers all of that.

You clearly aren't "in the news business," but that doesn't seem to be an issue with your lecturing on what they should and should not be doing.

You keep moving the goalposts - first you say where is the M$M????? Then you are shown that you were wrong, that yes, it's being reported in the dreaded M$M.

Then you complain that there aren't camera set up there everyday "until the BULLSHIT is stopped." You hate the M$M, clearly, but then you think that they have the power, simply by paying a camera crew to stand by their front door to "end the BULLSHIT."

Which is it?

[pnwmom]

11. They should get a court order from a judge and go there with the police nt

[bluestarone]

18. An ORDER before they went would have been the right way!!

After the fact bullshit is getting old! Have ORDER in hand next time with a marshal!!!!

[ehrnst]

45. Can you tell me under what charge they could get a warrant?

If you want a marshal to give an order, there has to be a reason backed up with evidence - you have evidence of abuse, for instance.

Otherwise, a marshal is going to tell you that you need to contact the facility and arrange for a visit.

They did the next best thing - showed up with media, and got lots of press about the situation.

[bluestarone]

46. Maybe healthcare concern?

I'm sure they could come up with SOMETHING!

[ehrnst]

51. I think that this kind of on-camera, "Do you see them keep us out? There are children in there!"

tactic will do more good, and spread more protest from the grassroots.

Being turned down for a warrant would certainly be fodder for the GOP to say, "They are trying to accuse us of mistreating kids when they can't get enough evidence for a warrant!"

Yes, I think that those facilities need to be inspected now. And yes, it's frustrating.

But strategy is important. Just as it was when Rosa Parks (quiet, calm, lightskinned) was chosen as the one who would stay seated on the bus, and be arrested. That narrative would reach more people than the teenager who was pregnant and combative, who was arrested for the same earlier.

The policy at the detention center must be shown to be unreasonable, and them turning away three reasonable public servants (all women) from seeing children is much more damning than three reps storming in with marshals and perhaps finding nothing out of line at that time.

[bluestarone]

53. Do not disagree!!

[OhNo-Really]

12. Idea: Congress, send letters every week announcing inspections.

That way maybe the child prisoners will receive better care.

For profit Kiddie Prisons? USA fail

[Takket]

33. every day......

send a letter to every facility every day............ that way they have ALWAYS received two weeks notice.

[PoiBoy]

13. You shouldn't be worried if you got nothing to hide...

Democrats should grow a spine..

<snip>
The congresswomen say HHS is in violation of a law passed last year that says members of Congress can’t be prevented from entering "any U.S. facility used for maintaining custody of or otherwise housing unaccompanied alien children" for oversight purposes.
<end>

Federal law overrules corporate policy.. The Dems should show up with the FBI and the media and demand entrance. When they're denied entrance, they have the person in charge arrested, then demand entrance from the next in line... if they refuse, they are arrested and so on down the line until they find someone willing to comply with Federal law or no one is left at the facility to deny entrance... then they go in and see exactly what's happening...

Does anyone doubt that the republicons wouldn't take this type of action if a Dem administration tried any of this..?

[Haggis for Breakfast]

29. I like the way you think, PoiBoy.

BTW: Poi is delicious. Do you make your own ? I like two-day myself, but can't find it here in WA.

[PoiBoy]

39. Fresh or day old for us...

No.. We don't make our own poi, but I'm currently replanting my garden, changing over to mostly native plants and I'm thinking of planting some dry land taro... seems it grows real good up here on the side of the mountain... check out the Hanalei Poi Co. or Kauai Poi Co. for mail order options.. Aloha..!

[c-rational]

30. Bingo!

[ehrnst]

52. "Democrats should grow a spine?" Hello.....

So, what happens if they storm the place with the FBI, and find nothing obviously neglectful or abusive at that time?

They look like fools.

And you think that the kids who have been through so much are going to be HAPPY to see uniformed officers?

They look like abusive, overreacting fools.

The policy at the detention center must be shown to be unreasonable, and them turning away three reasonable public servants (all women) from seeing children is much more damning than three reps storming in with marshals and perhaps finding nothing out of line at that time.

Is it because the reps are women that you assume they have "no spine?"

[ehrnst]

75. Crickets....

No surprise.

[DallasNE]

14. It Is NOT Oversight If They Are Given 2 Weeks

To tidy things up. Once again, no transparency - just trust us.

[olegramps]

16. Tidy up, or litterally bury the evidence. How many are actually in their custody?

[DallasNE]

24. For Sure. Also

Things like transporting a couple thousand to an empty warehouse to hide overcrowding. And the list goes on.

[SunSeeker]

36. Exactly. nt

[Pepsidog]

17. Congressmen should set up a tent and not leave until they get access. This should be front page news

[Leghorn21]

26. +++ - it's really just that simple, dog

DO NOT LEAVE UNTIL ACCESS IS GRANTED, period.

[bronxiteforever]

19. HHS is hiding very bad things

The House needs to zero fund the HHS Secretary and her staff in the next budget unless there is compliance. The House can exercise its Constitutional power of the purse with all cabinet secretaries that do not cooperate with oversight.
Kick and recommend for visibility

[paleotn]

22. OK, now who was it this week..

who said comparisons of 45's regime to the Nazis was over the top? Who? Hello? Are you listening? "tap, tap, tap" ....."crickets".

[spanone]

25. this administration is hell-bent on eliminating any and all oversight.

neutering congress.

[malaise]

31. I'd like to know why not one of the cable channels has

raised this during the discussion on the Nielsen resignation.

I'd like both Nancy P and Schumer to raise this issue.
These goons think they are above the law

[onecaliberal]

27. What are they hiding?

[Locrian]

28. and who and how is this funded?

start hitting them where it hurts...

[YOHABLO]

32. A ''Theresienstadt" of U.S. holding facilities for immigrants.

"a two-week visit notification from visitors'' Gee I wonder why? So they might clean the place up a bit, make it seem more civilized in their treatment of asylum seekers?

[lindysalsagal]

34. Tea Leoni did this on an episode of Madamn Secretary last year.

the local dipshit texas sherrif arrested her.

[SunSeeker]

35. K & R for exposure.

[barbtries]

37. this is maddening.

they cannot get away with this! aargh

[Historic NY]

38. They should have bee nscreaming bloody murder and had the sheriff

with them.

[ehrnst]

54. Yes, that's certainly a way to keep those traumatized kids calm, isn't it?

Uniformed officers storming the place...

And what if there is nothing wrong at the time they storm the place?

Sobbing, terrified children, and nothing that made it worthwhile.

Dems look like idiots, the GOP has fodder for weeks.

[Historic NY]

56. So you know what going on inside?

The Sheriff is the civil authority, he can bring along a fire inspector and any other agency to inspect the building, unannounced. The idea is they should have gone prepared . Your concept of storming must come from the TV.

[ehrnst]

58. "Screaming bloody murder" Your words, not the TV..

Changing your tune now?

I never stated that I knew what was going on inside. I do know that there are kids in there, many of them small kids, and that is something that one has to consider before doing anything.

I think that what they did was the best way to call attention to the problem and put public pressure on them.

So, you know that these reps can order the sherriff to come with them, along with the fire inspector to inspect the building?

[Historic NY]

60. No.

[ehrnst]

61. ???

"No," to what?

[dlk]

40. They Probably Need to Show Up with a Court Order and U. S. Marshalls

The advance notice is so they can hide the evidence of their mistreatment and abuse.

[DFW]

44. They should show up next with a team of US Marshals armed to the teeth

They should arrest, with guns drawn, if necessary, any employee of any such shelter who seeks to violate the law and deny them entry. Resistance should be met with any force needed. No quarter should be given to those who wish to violate the law,hiding behind some illegal Republican Party directive. Republican Party directives are not law.

[Takket]

47. Agree. This is how it is done in the real world

If the cops think you have a dime bag they show up with guns drawn, bullet proof vests, battering rams and armored vehicles that look like tanks.

Why do these scumbags deserve any different???

[ehrnst]

57. Because there are kids in there, some very small?

What you're thinking of is Hollywood, not the real world.

"guns drawn, bullet proof vests, battering rams and armored vehicles that look like tanks."

That sounds exactly like what the GOP wants at the border greeting families.

[Takket]

68. Movies? You can't possibly be that naive.

You think swat team show up to hostage situations with a strongly worded note?

My point was in the real world the militarized police are used against American citizens EVERY DAY. WHY does this group making money off the suffering of children for drumpf deserve any better???

[ehrnst]

69. With hundreds of kids? You can't possibly be that naive.

My point was in the real world the militarized police are used against American citizens EVERY DAY. WHY does this group making money off the suffering of children for drumpf deserve any better???

Because the militarized police storming the gates are usually the LAST resort in situations where there are hundreds of children and people caring for them who are not criminals ready to harm the kids?????? It's not the best circumstances for these kids, but it's not a meth lab, and doesn't merit the heavy militarized response of one.

That's what Trump wants at the border greeting families, like they are all MS13 thugs, and as decent human beings, we are supposed to be opposed to that.



LIKE WE SAY TO HOMELAND SECURITY: What you do to the adults in those circumstances, you are doing to the kids. Trump fans being pissed off at brown adults and kids coming into this country doesn't merit military style force.

[DFW]

63. Their smug expressions when denying access to the Congresswomen would definitely change

A replay of the end of the Shawshank Redemption.

[ehrnst]

65. Yeah, movies are always end in a cool way. Real life, not so much. (nt)

[DFW]

66. You watch too many American movies, then.

Here in Europe, they have unhappy endings as much as the other way around.

[ehrnst]

67. Well then. That explains your credentials to lecture all of us stateside

on how that shelter is run, built, managed, the location of the kids, the evil and nefarious natures and motives of the "scumbag employees," and how clearly a bunch of guys with BATTERING RAMS and ARMORED VEHICLES and BIG BIG GUNS are the only way that this kind of situation gets resolved. Like it is in movies, or footage you've seen of drug busts of adults on TV in Europe. I take it you watch a lot of "Cops"?

Further responses also indicate that anyone who offers reasons why that might not be the best approach in a facility full of children, or has information that doesn't support your assumptions, must think that detention centers are their "idea of child care."

[ehrnst]

55. That's one way to traumatize these kids even more than they have been....

Lots of guns drawn. Lots of uniforms and force and dragging people away, people that have been caring for the kids, away from the kids.

Sounds like a GREAT idea if you forget that there are KIDS in there.

[DFW]

62. The kids are kept in the interior

They'll hear that something is going on outside, but they won't know what. There are layers between the "inmates" and the exterior. The Trump Administration isn't exactly showing off what they're doing. Like all good concentration camps, outsiders can't see what's going on inside, and the people trapped inside can't communicate with casual passers-by.

And unless you're a Republican, the ones denying entry to observers at the entrance can hardly be categorized as people who are "caring for" the children. If that's your idea of child care, then we have differing definitions of what that term means.

[ehrnst]

64. Your words:

They should arrest, with guns drawn, if necessary, any employee of any such shelter who seeks to violate the law and deny them entry. Resistance should be met with any force needed.

Would that no include employees who are with the children, taking care of them? Employees who are not "seeking to violate the law" which they may or may not be aware of?

There are layers between the "inmates" and the exterior.

You talk like this a prison break movie. OK, so where are the blueprints and building layout you are privy to? Because a simple google shows something different. Tents, not walls.

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article225602780.html

And unless you're a Republican, the ones denying entry to observers at the entrance can hardly be categorized as people who are "caring for" the children.

I'm talking about the people who are inside,literally taking care of the children, who see armed men with guns drawn. And you said "ANY" employee who is doing their job, and suprised by "a team of US Marshals armed to the teeth," GOP at the border type raid on the facility, and might try to hide the children, like a teacher during an active shooter situation in a school, which they may not know is "in violation of the law." I don't believe you've really thought this through.... except for the great big guns and the assault vehicles. KABLOOIE!! That would be a totally macho way of handing a situation and getting some GREAT footage that would totally make you think that something's being DONE rather than three women in suits just talking to the media about how they are being turned away. You seem to have a very black and white vision of the way this kind of thing works - where things are solved with guns a blazing. Maybe you get this from movies?

If that's your idea of child care, then we have differing definitions of what that term means.

That's a combo false dillema AND attacking a straw man. Beats actually responding to an uncomfortable question, I guess.

[NurseJackie]

70. Maybe they'll ask "do ya feel lucky" like Dirty Harry. How exciting!

[ehrnst]

72. That would be so TOTES awesome!

They would so totally go running and POOP THEIR PANTS!

[Blue_Tires]

71. IMPEACHMENT WHEN