The U.S President Donald Trump has claimed migrants in U.S ICE detention centers are living far better now. His statement comes a day after inspectors criticized squalid conditions and published images showing families held in overcrowded cages. Democrats also claimed the migrants were experiencing basic human rights. The president launched a series of tweets defending his actions. He earlier said that many of those in detention were living in better conditions than they were in the countries they had come from. Trump wrote, “Many of these illegal aliens are living far better now than where they came from and in far safer conditions. No matter how good things actually look, even if perfect, the Democrat visitors will act shocked and aghast at how terrible things are”.
Trump also said, “If illegal immigrants are unhappy with the conditions in the quickly built or refitted detentions centers, just tell them not to come. All problems solved”. The comments were made as the nation got ready to mark the July 4 national holiday. The U.S President is prepared to address crowds in Washington DC. Democrats also condemned the conditions announced by the office of the inspector general of the department of homeland security. It says the president should act immediately. California Senator Kamala Harris tweeted, “How can anybody look at these photos and think this isn’t a human rights abuse”. She is one of at least 2-dozen Democrats looking the party’s nomination to take on Trump during the next year.
The report of inspectors is based on visits at 5 facilities in Rio Grande Valley, Texas. They found children had few spare clothes, no laundry facilities and insufficient to eat. The report also says many of the centers were extremely overcrowded. Some single adults were held in standing-room-only conditions for a week at one facility. At another, some single adults were held more than a month in overcrowded cells. The report further added, “We are concerned that overcrowding and prolonged detention represent an immediate risk to the health and safety of DHS agents and officers, and to those detained”. Children at 3 of 5 border patrol facilities had no access to showers. While all facilities had infant formula, diapers, baby wipes, juice, and snacks for children.