Immigration Detention Centers at the Border An Assessment of the Crisis

Crisis in Immigration Detention Centers at the Border

From the onset, it is important to note that as Heyman, Slack, and Guerra (2018) point out, the situation in border detention facilities can only be described as pathetic. As a matter of fact, the authors observe that in the past, some secret photos taken in some of the facilities such as the South Texas detention centers show the difficult and inhuman conditions that those detained therein – including children and women, - live in. Although, as Heyman, Slack, and Guerra (2018) indicate, the leaked photos could have had a political dimension, it would be prudent to note that they offer us a sneak preview of the situation in some of the said facilities. As a matter of fact, in recent times, more photos and videos have emerged indicating the terrible conditions in which those held in the detention facilities have to put up with. For instance, as recently as March, Rep. Henry Cuellar released photos of people being held in what appeared to be overcrowded makeshift pods at the Donna Processing Center (Neuman, 2021). As the author in this case points out, the said pods only had plastic sheathing as separators – effectively meaning that the occupants of the said pods were not effectively shielded from harsh environmental elements. Overcrowding was also a prominent feature in this case – with shelters designed to hold approximately 260 persons holding almost double the said capacity (Neuman, 2021). What is even sadder, children were also being housed under similar conditions. According to Robbins (2015), there are thousands of unaccompanied children who have in the past been detained in the said centers.

Others who have had access to the immigration detention centers at the border describe what they witnessed as heartbreaking. Investigative features have also indicated that disease happens to be rampant in the said centers (Anderson, 2021). As Anderson (2021) further points out, sexual abuse has also been reported. More specifically, in the words of the author, “findings from the BBC's investigation include allegations of sexual abuse, COVID and lice outbreaks, a child waiting hours for medical attention, a lack of clean clothes and hungry children being served undercooked meat” (Anderson, 2021). Where there are those who are convinced that we indeed have a problem given reports and findings such as these, there are of course those who are of the opinion that immigration detention center crisis has been overblown in some instances. For instance, according to Heyman, Slack, and Guerra (2018), spotlighting the pathetic state of border detention facilities, and the suffering of children and women therein, could have helped evoke “feelings of service and solidarity” (774). On the other hand, the sheer number of immigrants detained in the facilities could appear to others as an invasion crisis involving “disease-bearing, gang-ridden Latin American border migrants” (Heyman, Slack, and Guerra, 2018, p. 774). In my opinion, however, whether the crisis is overblown or not, we indeed have a problem that calls for the involvement of all the relevant stakeholders so as to successfully resolve.

The successful resolution of the crisis would call for the involvement of multiple agencies and organizations at both the federal and local levels. This is more so the case given that in addition to being a humanitarian crisis, the issue also tends to have legal and political ramifications. For instance, more needs to be done to hasten the pace of deportation proceedings. According to Robbins (2015), the Obama administration attempted to advance this agenda through the establishment of a juvenile platform in immigration courts. The relevance of ensuring that children are accorded fair hearing cannot also be overstated. This is often difficult to achieve owing to the sheer number of cases presented to the courts and human resource constraints. Amongst those detained at the detention facilities are individuals with genuine reasons for seeking asylum – and hence should not be deported. It should be noted that as Robbins (2015) observes, asylum – which happens to be rather difficult to secure – remains one of the most viable ways for persons facing persecution to “win relief from deportation.” However, to a large extent, winning the said relief from deportation happens to be a rather complex journey that would ordinarily call for proper guidance, especially for unaccompanied children in detention facilities.

In the final analysis, it should be noted that although the crisis is far from being resolved, significant progress has been made in recent times. This is more so the case since the Biden administration took over. The first few days of the administration were marred by confusion – which made the situation in the detention facilities even worse. However, at present, things appear to be headed in the right direction. For instance, according to Alvarez (2021), thanks to federal entities such as the Department of Health and Human Services, the wellbeing of children in detention facilities is being addressed in a more systematic and deliberate manner. For instance, the agency has established numerous shelters to help in the accommodation of children. In the words of Alvarez (2021), “that's allowed for an increasing number of children being transferred out of border facilities to spaces equipped to care for them at a quicker pace.” The present administration has promised to fix some of the problems that were prevalent during the Trump leadership. Only time will tell whether this is mere political rhetoric or genuine commitment on the part of the present administration to solve the crisis in immigration detention centers at the border.