The
“Tuesday announcement” referred to in the editorial was made by the Obama
Administration, which announced plans to reform the immigration detention
system. The “core principles” that the Obama Administration hopes to restore include
due process, access to sound medical care, and making sure civil violations are
being treated as such. What are these principles replacing? An immigration
detention system that is “notorious for shabby and abusive conditions,
poor or nonexistent medical treatment and a trail of preventable injuries and
deaths."
Clearly the system is broken. This video testifies to how
broken the system is.
The nine-minute video features
interviews with ACLU executive director Anthony Romero, members of Congress,
immigration judges, civil society leaders and ordinary families affected by
harsh immigration laws.
Today’s announcement by the Obama administration is just a
first step and can only do so much. Secretary Napolitano conceded a month ago
to the Washington Post that while “looking at the overall immigration law is so
very, very important, and the President has made it a priority. I've made it a
priority”, but that “Congress takes the lead.”
At http://restorefairness.org/,
there are links to contact your representative to urge for not only a reform of
the immigration detention system, but comprehensive immigration reform as well.