In response to the migrant crisis at the US – Mexico border, faculty at Saint Mary’s College of California organized a Borderlands project that entailed spending one week studying the problem first-hand.  Two cohorts traveled through the Central Valley, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Tijuana in July of 2018 and 2019 on a fact-finding mission. The professors, from multiple disciplines, met with a wide variety of governmental and non-governmental organizations, including Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the United Farm Workers, growers’ associations, refugee centers, deported U.S. armed forces veterans, human trafficking groups, faith-based organizations and others, to gain an understanding of the issues that drive thousands of men, women, and children to leave their countries and attempt to cross over al otro lado, to the United States.  Upon their return to campus, the faculty have continued to meet and to devise ways to incorporate their new knowledge into their curriculum and their lives. The letter below is part of their efforts to bring attention to the policies the U.S. government has implemented through ICE and how they are putting at risk the lives of thousands of people. Dr. Myrna Santiago, History Department, Director, Women’s and Gender Studies

.

                                                                                                May 15, 2020

Matthew T. Albence,

Derek N. Benner,

Deputy Directors, 
ICE

Dear Mr Albence and Mr Benner,

We, the undersigned faculty of Saint Mary’s College of California* who have participated in a Borderlands project designed to understand the issues surrounding immigration from Latin America to the United States, protest in the strongest terms possible the inhumane conditions that migrants and refugees are being subjected to in ICE detention camps.  As we speak, more and more children, women, and men detained in the prisons you are responsible for are being infected with the deadly coronavirus and at least one person, Carlos Escobar Mejia, has died from it. None of those thousands of unfortunate souls, already traumatized by the violence, misery, or repression they faced in their own countries and the incarceration experience itself, are provided with any meaningful medical services by the agency that you direct.  

The treatment those populations under your responsibility are subjected to is in violation of the most fundamental human rights recognized by international law: the right to be free from torture, the right to bodily integrity, the right to asylum, and ultimately the right to life.  It is utterly shameful that your office has done little to nothing to remedy the situation, to release those you are holding pending a fair hearing, and to protect the communities where your incarceration centers are located.  

It is obvious that the imprisoned are not the only ones exposed to the virus.  Every ICE agent, subcontracted or not, is also at risk of infection.  Every ICE employee, subcontracted or not, who goes home at night after being in close contact with migrants and refugees who are already suffering from COVID-19 is taking the risk of contagion to their families and communities after their shifts are over.  Thus, the mistreatment your agency inflicts upon migrants and refugees places entire regions at risk.

It is the responsibility of ICE, and you personally as the acting director, to put an end to this situation and to protect the health and lives of the thousands of children, women, and men whom your agency has imprisoned.  It is way overdue.  A shameful and disgraceful policy has now turned into a death sentence for thousands of innocents.  Do the right thing.  Provide the necessary medical care for all people incarcerated in your prisons, subcontracted or not.  Arrange for fair hearings for all.  Release all people ICE is holding until their cases are resolved.  Nothing less will do in this emergency.

Sincerely,

Dr. Myrna Santiago, History Department, Director, Women’s and Gender Studies

Dr. Molly Metherd, English Department

Dr. Maria Luisa Ruiz, World Languages and Cultures Department

Dr. Caroline Burns, School of Economics and Business Administration

Dr. Michael Barram, Theology and Religious Studies

Dr. John Ely, Sociology Department

Dr. Zahra Ahmed, Politics Department

Dr. Jennifer Heung, Anthropology Department

Dr. Alicia Rusoja, Justice, Leadership, and Community Program

Dr. Rebecca Anguiano, Counseling Department, School of Education

Yolanda Franco, M.A., Organizational Leadership, Saint Mary’s College Alumna

Karin L. McClelland, M.A., Mission and Ministry Center

*The views expressed in this letter are those of the undersigned.  They do not necessarily reflect the views of Saint Mary’s College of California, which is mentioned for identification purposes only.

…