Seven Short and Long-Term Steps to Re-set Immigration in the US
There is hope for the new administration alleviating the suffering
President-elect Biden gave hope to the nation stating that the new administration will end cruel policies towards immigrants.¹,² With humility, I am offering the following short and long-term steps to be considered in their deliberations:
Needs Assessment
- Consultation among an interdisciplinary team of experts in the fields of immigrant advocacy, cultural sensitivity, psychiatry, trauma, psychology, sociology, social work, child development, law, sexual assault, abuse and neglect, women’s rights, human rights, health, public health, government, and, most importantly, former and recent immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees. The team will conduct a needs assessment for developing phases of policy changes that integrate best practices and American values, and look into innovative models that may be duplicated.
Steps for improving situation of detainees prior to revamping of systems
- Review to make sure current border control guards/ICE staff have appropriate background checks. Removal of those with backgrounds with violence from working with detainees. Hiring to include psychological and bias testing and rigorous education and training.
- Dismissal of guards and staff who are complicit in neglect, abuse, and/or sexual assault of people detained like criminals.
- Assessments and interventions re suspected abuse, neglect, and sexual assault to be done independently of government agencies in a manner advised by a consortium of Hispanex and human rights advocacy organizations with respect for the need for compassion and freedom from covert or overt intimidation.
- Immediate transfer of people who report sexual assault to safe houses, freedom from repercussions of reporting, with the advisement of Hispanex advocacy organizations on culturally sensitive counseling, and assistance on bio-psycho-social levels including legal guidance.
- Removal of camera blind spots in all detention center hallways and rooms. Women staff conducting or being witness to body checks of females.
- Careful monitoring so that “whistle-blowers” are not penalized in any manner such as the reduction in shifts, demotion, or termination.
Thanks so much for reading about these short and long-term steps towards immigration in the US. The administrations is raising the beacon of hope for immigrants to be welcomed by “one nation, with liberty and justice for all”.
The stories in the collection below reveal behind-the-walls cruelty and torture immigrants are enduring. The final story shines light on a future where immigrants are welcomed to America with justice.
Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama (Archives), Katie Couric, Sarah Towle