A chilling account of immigrant women in detention.

[Arkansas Granny]

https://www.motherjones.com/coronavirus-updates/2020/04/ice-pepper-spray-lasalle/

The Women Asked ICE for Soap. They Got Pepper-Sprayed Instead.

On March 25, Jennifer Avalos Barrios, a 24-year-old from Guatemala with two young boys in California, made a panicked call to her sister from an immigration detention center in Jena, Louisiana. “Call my lawyer,” she said, “and tell her I’m suffocating.”

Marlene Seo, a 47-year-old who’s lived in the United States since she was 3, sent texts. “Alex,” she wrote to her daughter through an app, “they just sprayed pepper spray in here and everyone is practically dying from coughing we can’t breathe!!!” The next message was one word: “help!!!”

That morning, officials from GEO Group at Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s LaSalle detention center had assured Avalos Barrios, Seo, and their dorm mates that they were safe from the new coronavirus. Things went awry, and soon 79 women found themselves trapped in a room filled with pepper spray. They were coughing, fainting, crying out for help. It was an hour or so before they got out, Avalos Barrios later told her lawyer, Mariel Villarreal.

I’ve spoken to Avalos Barrios, five dorm mates, a woman who watched things unfold from a neighboring dorm, and many of their loved ones. Most are using their real names, a courageous decision at a time when GEO Group is retaliating against people who speak to the media.

[Frustratedlady]

1. I've also wondered how the children and others are doing in confinement.

We don't hear anything about the virus in these places, which makes one have to wonder what the hell is going on. I'm sure they don't have the secret on how to be 100% clean when it comes to infections.

Our attention has been diverted from these horribly expensive detention centers. At $700+/day, they should be getting incredible care and a safe environment. We know that isn't true, nor do we know who is making all the money from these facilities.

This administration should be imprisoned for the way they treat humans.

[SheltieLover]

2. Damn them!

Fuking infuriating! 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

K&R!

[JustAnotherGen]

3. I'm bookmarking this

And when Trump is removed in January - I want every single CBP officer and ICE officer who has been a sick vindictive bastard to those who are detained - Fired and To Lose ANY and ALL benefits.

We all need to remember this post.

There will be no 'I followed orders' bullshit. They knew PRECISELY what they did and they reveled in it.

They are acting like MF45 is going to be in office forever. And they are acting like there will be no survivors of their torture who will ever take revenge on them.

[Arkansas Granny]

5. This remark really hit me.

"We hear what’s on the TV. We hear all the rules that are being applied out there, but not in here. We’re being forgotten. They had this whole episode about animals and shelters. What about immigrants? The animals get airtime, and the immigrants don’t."

[2naSalit]

4. This is now becoming

Nazi America.

[Bayard]

6. Pepper sprayed for asking for soap

Unbelievable.

I've been wondering about the people there. They've fallen off the radar with the virus taking over the airwaves. Packed in like sardines.....with no soap. Are they even testing them?

[Solly Mack]

7. K&R

[Celerity]

8. K & R