Refugees in America

I usually try to refrain from political rhetoric- not because I don't have a strong view of the current political landscape but I've found that in my daily working environment and social settings there are generally two topics avoided- religion and politics.

However, I can't escape the general feeling of dread that I have right now. Everywhere I turn, the conversation is surrounding immigration.

I live in Austin and over the last several years, I have not-so-mildly joked about the detention center in Hutto- in that I've been constantly reminding individuals that we are housing women and children in our concentration camps. (That's what they are- even if we don't torture, starve and force labor.) The facility opened in 2006 and can house about 500 people. Currently, there are 300 residents and more than half are children. And now more are popping up all over the country.

I've read and heard countless stories of why these children leave their home countries or why their parents send them with human traffickers. I feel heartbroken for those children who leave what little family they have as to not be a financial burden, in hopes that they can make it to the famed promised-land and be able to provide for their families. But it's not so promised anymore. What was the land of opportunity for immigrants since the colonization of this country has turned into a boarded up house and a barbed wired fence.

I acknowledge that our border towns are filled with violence spewing from drug and human trafficking. Gangs have taken over control of once safe and life-filled towns. And these are the visions we fill our head with when we thinks of illegal immigration.

Over the last several weeks, I've seen town, cities and counties refusing to allow admittance of refugees. That's what I call them. Refugees. I've seen entities collecting people and herding them like cattle into fenced in areas.

I've seen this done in the name of security. In 2013, the US sent $23B in foreign aid to fund humanitarian assistance and international development. In addition, they have spent roughly $14B in foreign military assistance.

But providing humanitarian assistance to those entering our borders is a burden we aren't willing to provide.

I actually heard someone today saying that the children entering our borders carry diseases and are dirty. One said that they are all gang members. Many leave escaping violence, poverty, and human trafficking into slave and sex trades. All we see is those we consider lesser than ourselves. The same as we see our own homeless and poor. We don't need more. Where is the empathy that we have for the rest of the world- as long as it's not at our backdoor- it's okay to help.

I'm appalled by my fellow Americans. I'm appalled by my neighbors. I'm appalled by my fellow humans. That anyone would think it's okay to throw children in camps resembling animal shelters is horrific.

And yes, I realize that not all seeking refuge are children- but does it matter? We are all human.