After Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) claimed the United States has "concentration camps" along the southern border, she received flak from people across the aisle. Instead of admitting she was wrong, AOC decided to double down on what she said. She took to Twitter to share a video of her at these so-called "concentration camps."
According to Ocasio-Cortez, the "Trump admin was keeping children they stole from their parents" in these "concentration camps."
This video was from 1 year ago this week - before my primary & the Fox News cycle.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 18, 2019
I flew to the concentration camp where the Trump admin was keeping children they stole from their parents.
Back then, I was voicing my conscience. I still am. #AbolishICEpic.twitter.com/QLyc9MiMsV
What was actually taking place, as Border Patrol agents have repeated time and time again, was separating family units from the general population. They do this so they can vet the adults, especially when it's an adult male with a child.
Agents will ask basic questions if they suspect the detainees are lying about being a family. Where is the child from? How old is the child? What’s the child’s middle name? When did you get married? What’s are your in-laws’ names? If the person can't answer those questions, it becomes apparent they aren't related.
Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Mark Morgan was asked about AOC's comments.
"It's completely inappropriate. It's reckless. It's irresponsible. It's misinformed. It's flat out wrong," he said.
NEW: Acting @ICEgov Director Mark Morgan blasts @AOC comparison of migrant detention centers to concentration camps: "Its completely inappropriate, it's reckless, it's irresponsible, it's misinformed, and it's flat out wrong" https://t.co/AXuIN72jZ9 pic.twitter.com/B6pfc43E5C
— Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) June 18, 2019
At that point, Ocasio-Cortez should have realized she was better off apologizing for making a mockery out of the Holocaust. Instead, she placed blame on Morgan and other ICE heads.
Ah yes, because history knows that people who run concentration camp systems almost always acknowledge to the public what they’re doing. https://t.co/HOX7HGNIrm
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 18, 2019
Comparing Border Patrol facilities to concentration camps is flat out stupid and a form of fear mongering. Those who are in ICE and Border Patrol captivity weren't rounded up because of their race, religion or creed. They weren't taken from their homes unwillingly. They were caught illegally crossing our southern border. They were caught breaking the law. Consequences come with breaking the laws that are in place.
Agents aren't purposely trying to make the conditions inhumane. In fact, Border Patrol whistleblowers have stepped forward, concerned about the inhumane conditions detainees face.
The fact of the matter is this: Border Patrol resources are overwhelmed. Our system was never designed to hold the number of people that are currently there. Agents are doing the best they can with the resources available to them. Illegal aliens are being bused and flown to other detention centers, including short-term facilities, for processing. They lack the adequate showers, bathrooms and beds. We know that. No one is denying it. But to make it sound like a mass genocide is going on based on these people's beliefs is morally wrong.