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Liberty Belle

(9,535 posts)
Tue Jun 19, 2018, 01:09 AM Jun 2018

Congressional Democrats tour migrant chlidren detention facility in El Cajon, denounce separation...

Source: East County Magazine

San Diego Congressional members Susan Davis and Juan Vargas joined House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic members of the Hispanic Caucus in touring three local facilities holding child immigrants, including a fenced facility in EL Cajon, California with 65 migrant boys, 10 percent of whom were forcibly separated from their parents by the Trump administration’s new “zero tolerance” policy of prosecuting all undocumented parents. In the past six weeks, the federal government has acknowledged taking away over 2,000 children from parents at the border, including infants and toddlers.

“The United States should have a zero tolerance policy for the immoral treatment of children,” said Rep. Davis (CA-53), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee whose district includes part of El Cajon. “We are a nation of values and we ask our men and women in uniform to defend those values every day. This policy is in no way consistent with those values.”

Davis adds, “As a social worker who practiced in medical and psychiatric settings, particularly focusing on children and families, I can say the profound trauma thee children are experiencing will cause immediate and long-lasting damage to them.”

She is cosponsor of House Resolution 927 to condemn the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance policy separating children from parents, an action now opposed by 67% of Americans according to a new CBS news poll, including 90% of Democrats, 66 percent of independents and 39% of Republicans.

Read more: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/congressional-democrats-tour-migrant-children-detention-faciity-el-cajon-denounce-separation-parents





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It was very depressing to see how stark the outside of this facility looked; no media was allowed in today while the Congressional members were there. The Dems are doing all they can to stop this.

By contrast Republican Congressman Duncan D. Hunter, whose district includes El Cajon, has shown zero concern for these children and today issued a statement voicing support for the Trump policy of ripping children away from their parents. The policies are brutal and barbaric.

The only decent thing from this visit is learning that our Dems say the facilities in San Diego are better than some in Texas that were essentially cages; at least the kids here have beds and soccer and school lessons. Still, doctors who have visited some of the facilities elsewhere say workers are not even allowed to pick up and comfort crying, frightened children.

And of course the very idea of taking children away from parents violates international law, common decency and Christian teachings -- it must be stopped. There are rallies nationwide this Saturday; our story has a link to where you can find them and also how to contact the San Diego Congressional delegation to thank the Dems for caring about the kids, and tell the Reps how repulsed you are, assuming you share my personal views that nothing could be more reprehensible than seeing our government intentionally traumatizing children.
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Congressional Democrats tour migrant chlidren detention facility in El Cajon, denounce separation... (Original Post) Liberty Belle Jun 2018 OP
does one suppose it was neat, clean, everyone had new clothes kids all had toys? nt msongs Jun 2018 #1
Another media outlet was allowed in on Friday: Liberty Belle Jun 2018 #2
Update - I've asked our Congresswoman's office if the kids have toys, Liberty Belle Jun 2018 #4
KnR Hekate Jun 2018 #3
I saw the MSNBC report on Friday and tracked down Southwest Key Program BigmanPigman Jun 2018 #5
Even a city councilman in El Cajon told me Homeland Security would not give him this address. Liberty Belle Jun 2018 #6
I wonder if it is also a Southwest Key Program facility in BigmanPigman Jun 2018 #7
Thank you, I forwarded to a reporter of ours Liberty Belle Jun 2018 #13
The facility in El Cajon Joanie Baloney Jun 2018 #9
The correct address for the one in El Cahon is BigmanPigman Jun 2018 #10
We did not publish the address so that right-wing protesters Liberty Belle Jun 2018 #11
Oops, sorry about that! BigmanPigman Jun 2018 #19
I'm starting think that what TrumPuting may be attempting here... C Moon Jun 2018 #8
So important for them to know that the whole Hispanic caucus, Liberty Belle Jun 2018 #12
The neighbors didn't even know what was behind the greened out DeminPennswoods Jun 2018 #18
Get those Nazi bastards OUT OF MY STATE. byronius Jun 2018 #14
This must be stopped. Funky math in this story though uppityperson Jun 2018 #15
That was was the number Homeland Security gave out. Liberty Belle Jun 2018 #25
Funky HS. uppityperson Jun 2018 #27
Kick for Democrats in Congress who fight the darkness. bronxiteforever Jun 2018 #16
About not being allowed to touch the kids... DeminPennswoods Jun 2018 #17
I was an elementary school teacher and that is true. BigmanPigman Jun 2018 #20
There was one DeminPennswoods Jun 2018 #21
I hugged kids all the time and never got into trouble either. BigmanPigman Jun 2018 #22
The school nurse DeminPennswoods Jun 2018 #23
My argument was... BigmanPigman Jun 2018 #24
duncan Hunter must go and the voters in his district can make it happen in November beachbum bob Jun 2018 #26
So...some of the hostages are still alive? lagomorph777 Jun 2018 #28

Liberty Belle

(9,535 posts)
2. Another media outlet was allowed in on Friday:
Tue Jun 19, 2018, 01:24 AM
Jun 2018

They were not allowed to talk to the children. Their video shows no toys except for a soccer ball. There are brightly colored quilts on beds and superhero posters on walls in the medical cliinic. It seemed to be fairly neat and clean from what little we can see on the video, but obviously this is far from what these children need emotionally:
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/immigration/sd-me-family-separation-20180618-story.html

I read elsewhere that the group running this and some other facilities started as a group that intended to help migrants transitioning into the US and got roped into running centers for the unaccompanied minors coming here, and now the kids torn from their families.

Bottom line, it wouldn't matter if the children were put in palaces, this is still wrong. Children need their parents and emotional support, hugs, etc. from their caregivers.

I did, wonder though, if the community were to come together with donations of toys for these children, would the children be allowed to keep them? I'd kind of like to see a mountain of teddy bears put at the gates, as a symbols that people here care about these kids.

Liberty Belle

(9,535 posts)
4. Update - I've asked our Congresswoman's office if the kids have toys,
Tue Jun 19, 2018, 01:46 AM
Jun 2018

and if the community is allowed to donate any. They're working to get her on our radio show as a guest, and to get answers to those questions.

BigmanPigman

(51,621 posts)
5. I saw the MSNBC report on Friday and tracked down Southwest Key Program
Tue Jun 19, 2018, 01:53 AM
Jun 2018

which runs the facility in El Cahon and I called them to verify. There is no signage with a name so I had to get if go from the reporter as well as the street address so I could Google map it with a street view to match. The facility is clean, resembles a school and was organized but this was all seen with a news camera and people are not allowed in or I would have driven over to see for myself this week (I had a fever Fri). I do not know where the girls are sent to and no one else does either.

There is a rally downtown on Sat where 500 yellow bracelets will be given out as well as chalk so families can write letters to officials at the ICE office in the Fed Bldg.
https://actionnetwork.org/events/families-belong-together-san-diego

Liberty Belle

(9,535 posts)
6. Even a city councilman in El Cajon told me Homeland Security would not give him this address.
Tue Jun 19, 2018, 01:56 AM
Jun 2018

We know the girls' facility is in Lemon Grove, a small city here. I am going to be asking all the Councilmembers if any of them know where it is, but the feds don't want anyone finding these places.

If anyone knows where it is please pm me.

BigmanPigman

(51,621 posts)
7. I wonder if it is also a Southwest Key Program facility in
Tue Jun 19, 2018, 02:02 AM
Jun 2018

Lemon Grove. I bet this is it...
https://www.mapquest.com/us/california/southwest-key-program-350999583
I live in San Diego too. I just tried to access the website I saved from Fri and now I can't access it (the one in El Cahon). I don't know if it is my computer or the govt did it.

BigmanPigman

(51,621 posts)
10. The correct address for the one in El Cahon is
Tue Jun 19, 2018, 02:44 AM
Jun 2018

1160 Broadway, El Cahon, CA 92102. Maybe there are two El Cahon locations. If you Google map that address and look at the street view it is the same site as the one on Ali Velshi's MSNBC show last Fri. The reporter stood next to the street number and I got it and followed up on it. They have two listings in Lemon Grove too but I think that one if possible where the girls may be held (above post). I think there are a lot of Southwest Key facilities throughout the states and they aren't the only company that the govt is using either.
https://archive.org/details/MSNBCW_20180614_190000_MSNBC_Live_With_Ali_Velshi

C Moon

(12,219 posts)
8. I'm starting think that what TrumPuting may be attempting here...
Tue Jun 19, 2018, 02:09 AM
Jun 2018

is trying to blame the Democratic party on this horrible atrocity, and that could turn some of the California Hispanics to vote GOP.

Liberty Belle

(9,535 posts)
12. So important for them to know that the whole Hispanic caucus,
Tue Jun 19, 2018, 03:23 AM
Jun 2018

or at least a dozen or so of them, got on the bus to come to the facilities in San Diego today and are actively denouncing this.

DeminPennswoods

(15,289 posts)
18. The neighbors didn't even know what was behind the greened out
Tue Jun 19, 2018, 08:12 AM
Jun 2018

fencing until MSNBC showed up to do a TV report.

byronius

(7,397 posts)
14. Get those Nazi bastards OUT OF MY STATE.
Tue Jun 19, 2018, 04:07 AM
Jun 2018

And then out of my country.

I'll spend the rest of my life talking about this fucking horror. I'll never be silenced.

Damn them all to the lowest level of Hell.

uppityperson

(115,677 posts)
15. This must be stopped. Funky math in this story though
Tue Jun 19, 2018, 05:41 AM
Jun 2018

"65 migrant boys, 10 percent of whom were forcibly separated from their parents".
10% of 65 boys is 6 1/2 boys.

Liberty Belle

(9,535 posts)
25. That was was the number Homeland Security gave out.
Thu Jun 21, 2018, 04:21 AM
Jun 2018

But obviously they must mean that 6 or 7 kids were forcibly separated....if their number is anywhere close to true.

DeminPennswoods

(15,289 posts)
17. About not being allowed to touch the kids...
Tue Jun 19, 2018, 08:08 AM
Jun 2018

That's true in US schools, too. It's in place to prevent even the perception of child abuse. It's crazy that a teacher can't even hug a crying elementary schooler, but this is where were are.

BigmanPigman

(51,621 posts)
20. I was an elementary school teacher and that is true.
Tue Jun 19, 2018, 04:24 PM
Jun 2018

Once I had a a student in crisis and tried to run away and a marine who was volunteering to read to my class ran after him. The principal told him he wasn't even allowed to help get the student down from a fence he was climbing due to lawsuits. The student came down himself soon afterwards.

BigmanPigman

(51,621 posts)
22. I hugged kids all the time and never got into trouble either.
Tue Jun 19, 2018, 04:59 PM
Jun 2018

In fact I had a reputation for being nice with the kids and word spread to their friends and siblings. Kids from other classes, grades, total strangers would come to me to hug me whenever I had recess duty. I know that kids need this in their lives from trusted adults.

BigmanPigman

(51,621 posts)
24. My argument was...
Tue Jun 19, 2018, 05:17 PM
Jun 2018

"What can I do, they came up and hugged me?!?". It was true and I was not going to,push them away. I am surprised they didn't try to nail me for it since I was the union rep on my site and was harassed for it sometimes.

lagomorph777

(30,613 posts)
28. So...some of the hostages are still alive?
Thu Jun 21, 2018, 01:45 PM
Jun 2018

If the kids they saw are who Trump claims they are....

Hard to tell when you can't talk to them.

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