President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ zero-tolerance policy is dangerous to our national security, as well as so wrong on so many levels.
First, there is the national disgrace of abandoning and re-victimizing mothers and children when they need help the most. As one TV anchor stated: “Mothers do not put their children in boats unless they believe the water is safer than the land.” Most of these undocumented immigrants have no other options. The harsh treatment they are undergoing is still better than the terror they are fleeing. Nonetheless, professional pediatricians and social workers are warning that long–term trauma is already occurring and that it will be hard if not impossible to treat. That is not a great America, but a blatant national disgrace.
Second, Trump-Sessions’ zero tolerance is a market failure where scarce resources are squandered on all refugees and immigrants rather than concentrating on the real criminal elements. We have not seen apparent MS-13 gang members among the caged children. In fact many mothers are fleeing gang violence and the potential recruitment of their children. Ironically, MS-13 members must be rejoicing at this misallocation of resources while they watch their pool of potential recruits grow.
Third, is the absurd rationalization that we are a staunch country of laws — where valid exceptions are not recognized, nor any shades of grey. Contrary to the president’s repeated lies, there are no laws, regulations or court orders directing the separation of children (in cages no less) from their undocumented parents. In fact, this inhumane directive was only recently penned by Trump and Sessions in their April 2018 policy memo.
Fourth, through our own volition we are incubating the perfect petri dish for deep seated permanent anti-American anger. This will make radicalization far more attractive. The Trump-Sessions deterrence is really creating generations of USA haters.
Zero-tolerance must be put into the context of a root problem, whether we have the courage to stand-up for what America has always stood for. Trump and a bastion of silent Republicans are defying even the strongest natural law — to protect innocent children — and for what? To extort Democrats into building his $25 billion wall? To crassly deflect another news cycle? Or my favorite, to shamelessly stoke anti-minority sentiments that are endlessly echoed back to his white nationalist supporters — and the takeover of the Republican Party in Trump’s image. The president is coming out of the closet in that he now demeans all minorities, not just illegal immigrants. Moreover the president is totally on board with using children of all ages as political pawns.
While a majority of us believe the victimization of innocent children is a new low — a majority of Trump Republicans endorse or tolerate this national disgrace. My guess is that 2,000 forced separations will grow to 20,000 children before the “incarceration” madness ends. Why so many? Because too many of our fellow citizens are becoming numb to the endless propaganda — which only validates the psychological premise that repeated propaganda will eventually overcome facts.
Lastly, it is time for Alaska’s U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan to use their spines. Both have issued encouraging statements but are far from real action. There is only one moral choice: to immediately stop this un-American inhumane practice. Moreover, short- and long-term solutions must come from Congressional leadership as the president is simply incapable or unwilling to understand. So in frustration I use Trump’s vernacular — STOP YOU BIG DUMB JERK. I know it falls on deaf ears but I just had to clear my throat.
• Joe Mehrkens is a resident of Juneau and Petersburg.
