Wilmer Josue Ramirez Vasquez, 2 years old, Guatemala
Mariee Juarez, 2 years old, Guatemala
Jakelin Caal Maquin, 7 years old, Guatemala
Felipe Alonzo Gomez, 8 years old, Guatemala
Darlyn Cristable Cordova-Valle, 10 years old, El Salvador
Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez, 16 years old, Guatemala
Juan de Leon Gutierrez, 16 years old, Guatemala
These are the names and ages of the children who have died in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Control after they had fled their home countries to escape poverty, drought, and violence. About 200 members and supporters of the direct action group Rise and Resist held a silent protest on Monday evening in the main hall of Grand Central Station in New York City remembering these children by reading their names out loud to commuters. For an hour, they held a vigil holding up images of the young asylum seekers who died because of medical neglect and the inhumane conditions in the camps. In recent weeks, more disturbing information about the situation inside detention facilities has surfaced.
In a memo dated July 2, 2019, Jennifer L. Costello, DHS’s Acting Inspector General, described the Border Patrol facilities in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas as dangerously overcrowded and warned that many children had no access to showers and were being detained long past the maximum of 72 hours. During unannounced visits of five Border Patrol facilities and two ports of entry in the area, inspectors found that 826 of the 2,669 children had been held longer than the 72 hours permitted. At two facilities, children had not received a warm meal until the week the inspectors arrived; instead, children were fed sandwiches and snacks. At three of the five facilities, children did not have access to showers despite the mandated standards that detained juveniles should be provided showers within 48 hours. Inspectors also found that Border Patrol barely had fresh clothes for the children and no laundry facilities.
On Monday, July 8, 2019, Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, condemned the conditions refugees and migrants face in U.S. detention facilities. In a statement, she said, “Any deprivation of liberty of adult migrants and refugees should be a measure of last resort. As a pediatrician, but also as a mother and a former head of state, I am deeply shocked that children are forced to sleep on the floor in overcrowded facilities, without access to adequate health care or food, and with poor sanitation conditions.”
With their peaceful action, Rise and Resist also demanded the closing of the camps, the abolishment of ICE and ICE raids. On Friday, Trump renewed his vow that ICE raids would be “starting fairly soon” leaving many immigrants, especially those without legal status in constant fear of deportation. About 1 million immigrants are in danger of being deported, and according to the Immigration Defense Project, arrests in which ICE agents unlawfully enter homes using aggressive methods including brandishing guns and physical force have increased since January 2017. The organization urges everyone to review and share Know Your Rights materials available in 16 different languages.
More scenes from the Rise and Resist Silent Protest on July 8, 2019:
