Back in 1994 there was an immigration detention center called ESMOR in Elizabeth, now run by CoreCivic, which manages immigration detention centers all over the country. Women had to take showers without curtains, supervised by men, and there were serious allegations of sexual abuse, many of which were substantiated.
DHS, until yesterday, had an office to protect immigrants against sexual abuse by DHS officers, to handle complaints of discrimination, and to maintain ethical behavior, Now, no more. The Office of Civil Rights and Civil liberties has just been eliminated. And if you look at the DHS statement, you will see the move was clearly political.
Well, you may think, this only affects immigrants—oh yes, but just wait for the other shoe to fall. How we treat the least vulnerable in our society says a great deal about us as a people. And don’t expect big law firms like Paul Weiss to come to their defense. They just buckled under threats to lose their federal contracts. Being a lawyer is about serving justice. Where is justice now?
Prayer for the Day
Teach us, O Holy One, to extend to others
What we ask for ourselves: your forgiving mercy;
We do not think of ourselves as guilty of great sin,
But we do not see the ways demons enter our souls.
Forgive us, O God, and help us to practice what we preach,
Living in a Nation where we claim to be just and righteous.
In the name of the One who calls us to justice,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
These offices have obstructed immigration enforcement by adding bureaucratic hurdles and undermining DHS’s mission. Rather than supporting law enforcement efforts, they often function as internal adversaries that slow down operations.
DHS statement on eliminating the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
Effectively shuttering the office, while Congressional Republicans refuse to conduct any oversight, means that DHS will have carte blanche to do whatever Trump dictates, lawful or not.
U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson (D-Mass)
Ah, you who drag iniquity along with the cords of falsehood,
Who drag sin along as with cat ropes, who way, “Let him make haste,
That we may see it; let the plan of the Holy One of Israel hasten to fulfilment
That we may know it!” Ah you, who call evil good and good evil,
Who put darkness for light and light for darkness,
Who put bitter or sweet and sweet for bitter!
Isaiah 5: 18-20