Feedback from Staff of Speier, Harris, and Feinstein on "Close the Camps"

I heard the chant "Close the camps!" at a vigil called Liberty Lights and started wondering whether the camps could really be closed.   So I contacted some of the people chanting this, and they told me, "Good question."  Since they didn't know, I tried contacting Congresswoman Jackie Speier and Senators Harris and Feinstein.  I just sent this to a group of people I'll be with at an ICE protest.

Hi!

As you know I wrote to Senator Feinstein, Senator Harris, and Congresswoman Speier to get their takes on "Close the camps."  What would happen to the migrants  if the camps closed?  Does the chant "Close the camps" mean "Open Borders"?  

I got one form letter back from Congresswoman Speier saying what we'd expect her to say but not answering the questions.

So today I called to talk to staff members, who often know as much as the legislators they represent.  (I even learned the correct pronunciation of Kamala and got a mnemonic device:  Kama is pronounced like comma.)

No one could answer the question "What would happen to the migrants if they closed the camps." They also said they couldn't speculate.  One of the staff members said that at one time children coming in were sent to a relative in the US or kept with the family once they got to the border, but that isn't possible now that the numbers are so huge.

But they all said the same on my second question, "Are those who advocate closing the camps also advocating open borders?"

No.  Staff members said these representatives believe in the importance of keeping out arms and  narcotics and preventing human trafficking.  They also cautioned against saying "open borders" because the Republicans are using that as a scare tactic.

Alexandra Carter is the caseworker and field representative for Congresswoman Speier.  She said that Congresswoman Speier is concerned that the detention centers have been privatized  The idea that this could become a profitable business (like prisons) is worrisome.  She also made a distinction between the job of CBP, Customs and Border Protection, and ICE, which controls migrants within the USA.  

Everyone advocated adhering to our 20-days limit on the detention of migrant children (The Flores Agreement).  

As would be expected, they all advocated sending more resources to the border, but no one mentioned the fact that Jeff Sessions cut the number of judges available to hear cases.  They acknowledged that when I brought it up.  I would think that increasing the number of judges available to hear cases would be a major talking point.

Anyway, I wanted to share this info, such as it is, with you before our action today at 630 Sansome.  See you there at noon!

Tina