From time to time I get a reminder of why I took the time in 2008 to volunteer for the campaign of Jeff Merkley [D-OR], who defeated Goose-step Gordon Smith in the US Senate and is now serving in his second term. Today was one of those days, as Jeff traveled to Texas to stand-up for kids that Republicans had ripped from their parent’s arms and warehoused there.
America’s inhumane immigration system has come under growing scrutiny in recent days after President Donald Trump introduced his new policy of separating migrant children from their families, and when a sitting U.S. senator attempted on Sunday to examine the conditions of one immigrant detention center in Texas—where "hundreds" of children are reportedly being held—facility staff refused to allow him inside and called the police.
"The attorney general’s team and the Office of Refugee Settlement, they don’t want anyone to know what’s going on behind these doors," Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore) said after arriving at the Brownsville, Texas facility, which is run by the Southwest Key Program (SKP), a "non-profit" government contractor.
Merkley didn’t simply arrive at the facility unannounced. As the Oregon senator explains at the outset of his video [click through to see] of the attempted visit, he contacted federal officials and SKP to request access to the detention center, which is a former Walmart with completely blacked-out windows.
After Merkley repeatedly asked officials at the facility to allow him to speak with a supervisor who could give him a tour, local police arrived and questioned the senator about his attempted entry. When a supervisor did finally emerge, he wouldn’t answer Merkley’s questions or provide any information…
From <Common Dreams>
Here’s a brief clip from a local Portland station. The article has a longer one.
Kudos to Jeff for trying to protect children from Republican abuse of power. Oregon leads the way!
Please sign Jeff’s petition opposed to family separation.
RESIST!!
VOTE BLUE!!
9 Responses to “Merkley Rebuffed”
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I figured you would be right on this (it is all over the Internet, including several articles on Daily Kos and one on Truthout.) There is a petition in support of Jeff –
It’s his own petition BTW – the email came from him. Dear Lord, I wish we could clone him about 95 times.
RESIST AND PERSIST!
What in hell have we become to do this? It saddens me greatly. I’m mortified that our politicians say that this is okay. What if it were THEIR child/children?? What are they hiding from the blackened windows/doors to the ‘detention’ place?? I hang my head in anguish over this.
Kudos to Mr. Merkley for stepping up.
Thanks, Joanne for link to petition. Definitely signed.
America like Australia is good at removing children from their families, it’s been happening to Indigenous kids for generations!
DISGUSTED!!!!
Petition signed!
Merkley’s one of our best. I’ve always thought so.
So, does anyone wonder whether, or not, we have already come a fascist state? This is on the way to becoming like the forced disappearances in Latin America, run by its dictators! May dumpy some day, sooner, rather than later, face an international tribunal for crimes against humanity!!!!!!
We’re damn close Mitch. Unless Democrats take back at least the House in November, it may be the end.
Just the idea that children of all ages, so even the very young ones, are taken away from their already distressed parent(s) and “stored” into a boarded up Walmart, out of sight and out of daylight is making me nauseous. The harm done to both children and parents is inconceivable. Kudos to Jeff Merkley for bringing it to the attention of America again. It’s so easily forgotten in these chaotic times. Keep kicking them where it hurts, Jeff!
Thanks, hugs, and Amen to all!
We need more like Jeff Merkley.