As the country watches in horror, news reports of the U.S. government’s treatment of migrant children and adults play out on television and in images that destroy any notion that America is a humane and peaceful nation that respects human rights. Stories from survivors of political captivity show that even the groups most vilified by the U.S. government in the past treated their prisoners better than migrant children brought to our country to escape poverty and violence.
A Trump official argued in court that it was not necessary to be in compliance with providing “safe and sanitary conditions” by giving migrant children soap and toothpaste, much less beds or blankets. Republicans blame Democrats, who they say won’t approve more funding for more bed space or supplies. However, private corporations who own the detention facilities are being paid $750 per person, per day. Funding is clearly not the issue here.
Somali pirates gave me toothpaste & soap. https://t.co/K8zCP3IVMm
— Michael Scott Moore ? (@MichaelSctMoore) June 22, 2019
Michael Scott Moore was held prisoner by Somali pirates for 977 days. He said on Twitter that, unlike migrant children and adults being currently held in for-profit detention centers by the U.S. government, he was allowed such basic necessities as soap and toothpaste.
The Taliban gave me toothpaste & soap.
— David Rohde (@RohdeD) June 24, 2019
David Rohde is a New York Times journalist who was held in captivity by the Taliban for seven months. Again, during that time he was provided necessities like soap and toothpaste.
Twitter was horrified at the idea that the U.S. government is currently behaving more cruelly toward these children than adults held in captivity were treated by the Taliban and the Somali pirates. Read some of their comments below:
Featured image via BBC World Service under a Creative Commons license
