The Los Angeles City Council members ripped into the Trump administration Tuesday, Oct. 27, over its immigration and amnesty policies, Wed. Oct. 28, before a scheduled vote on a resolution to call on Congress to outlaw “unfair treatment of immigrants.’’
The council’s resolution denounces the administration over reports of more than 540 parents of immigrant children have gone missing under its watch, while their children continue to endure the conditions of federal detention centers.
“These kids and their families deserve and need our support,’’ Councilman Mitch O’Farrell said during a broadcast announcement of the resolution.
“It really is, incumbent upon all of us to remain strong in the face of what is the most absolutely derelict version of what humanity looks like,’’ said Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez said. Rodriguez represents the Northeast San Fernando Valley.
“Despite a recent claim that these children are being well taken care of by the author of the separation policy, the cruel and deplorable conditions at these detention centers were documented by (the Department of) Homeland Security’s own independent watchdog, describing standing-room-only cells, children without showers and hot meals and scenes of intense trauma and desperation.’’ said O’Farrell.
It was President Trump and the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy that began the practice to separate children from their parents and families to deter immigration to the United States. It was estimated in January 2020 that 4,368 children have been separated from their families at the border.
O’Farrell went on to describe the scenes at the detention facilities as chaotic, and he cited a DHS report that since September 2019, at least seven children have died while in the care of the detention facilities.
“You may recall that when (President Donald Trump) announced his campaign, he did so by specifically targeting Mexicans, immigrants, slandered them, said that they were criminals,’’ Councilman Gil Cedillo said, adding that reports have shown many immigrants to the United States have been coming from Central America.
The council adopted policies this year to prohibit the establishment and operation of private migrant detention facilities within Los Angeles, and prohibited lodging businesses from allowing private security firms from holding immigrant children within their facilities.
Prior to the introduction of the resolution on separated families, the City Council voted to condemn the practice of forced hysterectomies on immigrants at federal facilities.
This brought back very dark memories for women who received health services at Los Angeles County Hospital who recalled learning of the forced sterilization of Latinas in the 1970’s. Spanish speaking patients who had just given birth or were about to give birth were given forms to sign written in English that gave permission for the doctor and hospital to perform hysterectomies. The women, unable to speak or read English had no knowledge of what they were signing.
Similarly, at least 19 women at a Georgia immigration facility allege a doctor performed, or pressured them to undergo, “overly aggressive’’ or “medically unnecessary’’ surgery withouttheir consent, including procedures that affected their ability to have children.
“This definitely harkens back to an evil time in world history,’’ Councilman Paul Koretz said.
“(These are) absolutely deplorable, inhumane and frankly genocidal, if you will, activities at the hands of our own government.’’