蜜桃交友

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

Larger numbers of immigrants are now being placed in detention camps under President Trump鈥檚 鈥渮ero tolerance鈥� immigration policy.

Some statistics

Immigration rights organization Freedom for Immigrants reports that it costs US taxpayers between $99 and $150.00 per day to detain one person and that 70% of detainees remain for about one month in detention. The top abuses the organization reports are medical, nutritional and legal issues, prolonged detention, and solitary confinement.

At the beginning of July, a team of 6 US Bishops visited one of the facilities for minors. Bishop Daniel Flores, of the border diocese of Brownsville in Texas, spoke with Pope about the visit, and other issues concerning the facilities currently being used to detain immigrants awaiting court hearings.

Quality of care

Bishop Flores said that seeing the children was very sad. 鈥淭hey have food, they have a chance to go to school, play soccer. But in the end they are separated, they are uncertain as to what鈥檚 going to happen to them or whether they are going to be deported鈥�.

While basic amenities are being provided, Bishop Flores expressed concern that the facilities being used to detain immigrants be sufficiently supervised. 鈥淲e have to call for vigilance and inspection of these places鈥� to assure the quality of care offered, he said.

Alternatives

He and the US Bishops Conference advocate that the US government find alternatives to the present situation. The US Bishops鈥� Conference has 鈥渕ade it clear that there are other alternatives that are less expensive鈥�. Using 鈥渙ld military bases, or old camps is not a healthy alternative at all鈥�, he said.