NY Pols Demand Trump End 'Inhumane' Immigrant Policies

Ahead of nationwide raids to capture undocumented immigrants set for Sunday, members of the New York State Assembly sent a letter to both President Donald J. Trump and William P. Barr, the United States Attorney General, about the "humanitarian crisis unfolding on our southern border."

The 55 assembly men and women, including several from the Hudson Valley, wrote to oppose the Administration's policies in light of Homeland Security's recent report about conditions in federal detention centers.

"While we recognize the need for comprehensive immigration reform, there is an immediate humanitarian crisis to address," they said in the letter. "The Administration should reverse course without delay to end the overcrowding at detention facilities, stop the mass deportations, and stop the separation of families."

Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, a Democrat from Scarsdale said, in a statement to Patch, that no matter what one thinks of the broken immigration system, it is unacceptable to pile a humanitarian and human rights crisis on top of what is already a difficult problem.

"All of us who love this country must speak out against the intolerable and unacceptable treatment of human beings, especially children, in these detention centers which violates our most basic principles as Americans," she said.

The Sunday raids are said to target thousands of undocumented families in major cities coast to coast. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation backed by President Trump has sparked outrage among immigration advocates and even members of the Republican president’s own party. The raids reportedly target about 2,000 people previously ordered out of the country but still living in 10 cities: Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, Baltimore, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York City and San Francisco. Advocates also warn migrants in those cities' suburbs to remain vigilant.

Here's the full text of the letter from Democrats in the NY State Assembly:

Dear President Trump and Attorney General Barr:

As elected members of the New York State Assembly, we write to urge that you immediately halt and reverse the Administration’s inhumane treatment of detained asylum seekers and separated families at the southern border. This policy has traumatized countless asylum seekers fleeing violence in their home countries at your direction, and has led directly to the humanitarian crisis unfolding on our southern border.

While we recognize the need for comprehensive immigration reform, there is an immediate humanitarian crisis to address. The Administration should reverse course without delay to end the overcrowding at detention facilities, stop the mass deportations, and stop the separation of families.

This policy directly contributes to the backlog of deportation cases and legal challenges in federal courts, places thousands of immigrants in detention facilities and shelters, endangers the lives of more children, and instills fear in those seeking safety in the United States.

The Inspector General of the Department of Home Security’s own report decries the ‘pervasive overcrowding’ and the ‘unsanitary, inhumane’ conditions of asylum seekers being detained at U.S. Border Patrol facilities that were never meant to hold large groups of detainees for more than 72 hours. The report details ‘standing-room-only’ cells, children refused showers and hot meals, and indefinite detention time frames. The conditions and treatment described in the report are unacceptable and contrary to our American principles of liberty and justice.

We urge the Administration to end these cruel and unnecessary practices, and demand immediate action to rectify the situation on our southern border.

Sincerely,

Patricia Fahy – 109th A.D.
Jo Anne Simon – 52nd A.D.
Michaelle Solages – 22nd A.D.
Rebecca Seawright – 76th A.D.
Amy Paulin – 88th A.D.

Deborah Glick – 66th A.D
Mathylde Frontus – 46th A.D.
Donna Lupardo – 123rd A.D.
Carmen De La Rosa – 72nd A.D.
Jamie Romeo – 136th A.D.

Yuh-Line Niou – 65th A.D.
Jeffrey Dinowitz – 81st A.D.
Daniel Quart – 73rd A.D.
Anthony D’Urso – 16th A.D.
Didi Barrett – 106th A.D.
Diana Richardson – 43rd A.D.
Walter Mosley – 57th A.D.
John McDonald – 108th A.D.
Andrew Hevesi – 28th A.D.
Charles Barron – 60th A.D.
Jonathan Jacobson – 104th A.D.
Barbara Lifton – 125th A.D.
William Magnarelli – 129th A.D.
Joe Lentol – 50th A.D.
Kimberley Jean-Pierre – 11th A.D.
Kenneth Zebrowski – 96th A.D.
David Weprin – 24th A.D.
Alicia Hyndman – 29th A.D.
Judy Griffin – 21st A.D.
Victor Pichardo – 86th A.D.
Sandra Galef – 95th A.D.
Aravella Simotas – 36th A.D
Nathalia Fernandez – 80th A.D.
Nily Rozic – 25th A.D.
Felix Ortiz – 51st A.D.

Jose Rivera – 78th A.D.
Charles Lavine – 13th A.D.
Monica Wallace – 143rd A.D.
Helene Weinstein – 41st A.D.
Tremaine Wright – 56th A.D.
Inez Dickens – 70th A.D.
David Buchwald – 93rd A.D.
Catalina Cruz – 39th A.D.
Karen McMahon – 146th A.D.
Harvey Epstein – 74th A.D.
Catherine Nolan – 37th A.D.
Daniel O’Donnell – 69th A.D.
Pamela Hunter – 128th A.D.
Latrice Walker – 55th A.D.
Ron Kim – 40th A.D.
Robert Carroll – 44th A.D.
Karines Reyes – 87th A.D.
Michael DenDekker – 34th A.D.
Gary Pretlow – 89th A.D.
Ellen Jaffee 97th A.D.