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.
