Immigration has been one of the most debates issues since the presidential race in 2016. Donald Trump during his campaign express his hard take on illegal immigration, and his solution to solving the issue was introduced in a controversial proposal to build a wall on the U.S/Mexican border. Many have argued against this proposal for not only be ineffective considering the multitude of ways immigrants can enter into the United States, but an absurd waste of money that could be put to more beneficial affairs such as education and healthcare, especially for veterans.
Halfway through his first term, Trump eventually brought the hammer down on illegal immigration by having undocumented immigrants arrested by ICE border agents in taken into custody, but these weren't your average arrests. Hundreds to eventually thousands of children were snatched away from there parents and placed into cages where they were forced to sleep on mats supplied with sheets of aluminum foil as blankets. In the meantime, parents were eventually deported back in their countries south of the border while their children remain crammed in detention centers with the government having no definite plans on how to reunite them with their parents, and I have to say, this is heartbreaking.
To matters worse, reports have come out about horrifying mistreatment of the children have included lack of access to baths and showers, lack of medical treatment, and lack of adequate food and water. Children have reported to have died due to the horrific conditions. Many have described this treatment of these children as cruel and inhumane, and frankly, I couldn't agree with them more.
The way the Trump Administration has gone about tackling the immigration crisis is beyond repugnant. For children to be locked in detention centers for something that really wasn't their fault and have the ICE border patrol do a poor job on ensuring their health is deeply soul-crushing. The administration has shown a complete lack of humanity for people who are less fortunate than us. Trump and his officials, as well as some of his supporters, have argued that he is simply establishing law and order to protect the country. However, people breaking the law should not excuse Trump to allow acts of cruelty on people who should treated like human beings.
Yes, these people crossed the border and therefore, broke the law, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be treated with dignity and humanity. We are, after all, talking about people who were fleeing from their country to escape violent situations that more often not mean life or death. Yes, they should have applied for legal citizenship, but gaining American citizenship is a long and rigorous process that can take months and sometimes even years. Immigrants however, do have the right to seek temporary which should enable families to experience safe conditions, yet the system has continued to failed them.
I understand the country's need for secure borders, especially with many undocumented immigrants who are working without taxes. But the Trump Administration needs to find more humane and less costly ways of dealing with the border crisis, and what they are demonstrating right now is deeply immoral. If President believes in family values, then shouldn't families be together?