1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,240 Speaker 1: We are living, as you know, in this prison, in 2 00:00:02,279 --> 00:00:04,800 Speaker 1: no good conditions. There is not a hospital here, and 3 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: if a coronavirus enter here, We're not talking about one 4 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:10,040 Speaker 1: or two people are going to get it. No, everybody 5 00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:12,119 Speaker 1: at the same time is going to get it, because 6 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: everybody here is together, within the same air, and a 7 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:17,280 Speaker 1: lot of people are going to die here. 8 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:43,159 Speaker 2: From Futuro Media, It's Latino USA. I'm Maria ino Josa. 9 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:47,600 Speaker 2: There are currently over thirty five thousand immigrants in detention 10 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:50,199 Speaker 2: in the United States, and most of them are in 11 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:53,599 Speaker 2: facilities under the control of ICE, the Immigration and Customs 12 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:58,720 Speaker 2: Enforcement Agency, even during non pandemic times. Several of these 13 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 2: places have been singled out for denying adequate healthcare to detainees. 14 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 2: Last year, a group of advocacy and human rights organizations 15 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:12,119 Speaker 2: filed a sweeping lawsuit against ICE, pointing out major lapses 16 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 2: in medical care and over one hundred detention facilities. As 17 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:21,760 Speaker 2: the spread of COVID nineteen overwhelms hospitals in some areas 18 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 2: of the country, the situation that many immigrants and refugees 19 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 2: in detention are facing has become an urgent concern. ICE 20 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:31,760 Speaker 2: has already started to report that some immigrants and employees 21 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 2: have tested positive for the virus. 22 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:38,120 Speaker 3: In detention, people are being given about one four ounce 23 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:40,440 Speaker 3: tube of soap each week, which they say is not enough. 24 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 3: They've also asked for additional supplies beyond that, like hand 25 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:46,919 Speaker 3: sanitizer and disinfectant wipes so they can disinfect the phones 26 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 3: in between people using them, and they're not getting those. 27 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 2: Noel Lenard is a reporter with Mother Jones magazine. He's 28 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 2: been following a developing story in several detention facilities all 29 00:01:56,280 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 2: across the American South, especially in Louisiana. Noah's been in 30 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 2: touch with detainees inside these facilities, and we're going to 31 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 2: hear from these people as well. The situation that they 32 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 2: describe is dire, unsanitary conditions, overcrowded living spaces, a lack 33 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 2: of medical personnel. Many detainees fear that they've become sitting 34 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 2: ducks as the coronavirus closes in around them. Noel Lenard, 35 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 2: Welcome to Leatin, USA. 36 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 3: Thanks for having me all, Maria. 37 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 2: So, Noah, you've been reporting about immigration ice detention facilities 38 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 2: for a while now, but can you give us the latest. 39 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:38,080 Speaker 2: What do you know about what's happening in terms of 40 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 2: immigrants who are being held and who are worried about 41 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 2: the spread of COVID nineteen. 42 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:47,680 Speaker 3: Yeah. So I've been reporting on ICE detention for more 43 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 3: than a year and I've heard a lot of concerns 44 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 3: during that period about inadequate medical attention, ICE denying people release, 45 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:56,799 Speaker 3: leading to them to being detained for months or more 46 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 3: than a year. But what's been new is starting about 47 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 3: three weeks ago, I started getting at first just a 48 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 3: trickle of calls, but in the past couple of weeks 49 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 3: it's become a flood. I'm getting calls all the time. 50 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:20,639 Speaker 4: It's the Yamando de Villa in Spellacion Catahula Correctional Center. Yeah. 51 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 3: So the first call I got was from the Catahoula 52 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:25,520 Speaker 3: Correctional Center, which is a for profit jail run by 53 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 3: a company called Thesal Corrections, And it came from a 54 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 3: Cuban asylum seeker who has been detained for about a 55 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:32,920 Speaker 3: year now, and I've been speaking with him for about 56 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 3: six of those months. He asked that I not use 57 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 3: his name out of fear of potential retaliation. 58 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 1: Every day we listen to the news every day we 59 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:44,760 Speaker 1: know how dangerous the Coronavaro is that's why we are 60 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:47,120 Speaker 1: very we're very afraid of it. 61 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 3: He's calling from a for profit jail that was built 62 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:53,840 Speaker 3: to hold low level criminal inmates for the state of Louisiana. 63 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 3: But basically there aren't enough criminal inmates in Louisiana because 64 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 3: they've moved away from mass incarceration. ICE has swooped in 65 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 3: and started using this jail. So he's calling from a 66 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 3: jail where you're going to have sixty or eighty people 67 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 3: in one large room. 68 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 1: It's very but the conditions here are very But for example, 69 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 1: most of us are all the time with fru, all 70 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 1: the time with food because we are breathing the same 71 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 1: air everybody is. For example, we are very very close, 72 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 1: very close one to another. 73 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 3: Sleeping in bunk beds, all sharing the same phones, shame showers, 74 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:28,480 Speaker 3: same toilets. 75 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:33,039 Speaker 1: It is only about time. We can't get that coronavirus 76 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 1: here inside, and a lot of people are going to 77 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 1: die here. 78 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:39,479 Speaker 3: We know that he was very afraid that if the 79 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 3: new coronavirus got into his jail that it was going 80 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 3: to be a massacre and that many people were going 81 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:44,600 Speaker 3: to die. 82 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 2: So ICE Immigration and Customs Enforcement is being pressured for 83 00:04:57,320 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 2: all kinds of reasons, and it has said so far 84 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 2: that it going to scale back arrests detentions in response 85 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 2: to the pandemic. But is that extending to the people 86 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 2: who are in detention already. It would seem that they 87 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 2: would say we should be releasing them. But is that 88 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 2: even under discussion. 89 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:19,920 Speaker 3: It's definitely something they're being pressured to do by health 90 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 3: experts and immigrant advocates. Oh yeah, ICE has the authority 91 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:25,359 Speaker 3: to do something called parole, which basically just means to 92 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 3: release people. 93 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:30,160 Speaker 1: We want the Eyes to set us free because we 94 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 1: are not criminals. We're not criminals. 95 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 3: Essentially, every asylum seeker that I talked to has relatives 96 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:38,159 Speaker 3: somewhere in the United States, and they've always offered to 97 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:40,720 Speaker 3: take them in, to cover their health care costs, to 98 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 3: pay for their food, to give them housing. 99 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:46,479 Speaker 1: Our family has told the Eyes they are ready to 100 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 1: attend to us and give up the medicine, the food, everything. 101 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:53,919 Speaker 1: They know that we're still here, you know, without the pattle. 102 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 1: That's not fair. 103 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:58,279 Speaker 3: They absolutely have the authority to release people at their discretion. 104 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 3: So far, they've been choosing, despite huge amounts of pressure, 105 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 3: to exercise that authority that they have, so I says 106 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:08,599 Speaker 3: on its website that it is separating people who are 107 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 3: especially vulnerable to COVID nineteen, and then when it comes 108 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:14,599 Speaker 3: to social distancing, it says that the detention centers that 109 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:17,480 Speaker 3: it works with should promote social distancing as much as 110 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 3: is possible. 111 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 2: You know, one of the basic things around this virus 112 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:24,599 Speaker 2: is that you have to stay six feet apart from people, 113 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:27,280 Speaker 2: not be breathing on each other, not touching each other. 114 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:31,360 Speaker 2: You have to have access to soap and water, enhand sanitizer, 115 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 2: for example. So can any of that Does any of 116 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 2: that exist right now as you know, within these detention facilities. 117 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:42,599 Speaker 3: Yeah, the basic answer is no. I mean, first on 118 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 3: the social distancing, I think some of the listeners may 119 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 3: be picturing a jail that they've seen on TV, where 120 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:48,720 Speaker 3: it's one or two people and a cell. That is 121 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 3: not what these ICE detention centers are. These are big 122 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:53,919 Speaker 3: rooms with sixty eighty people in them, where everyone's sleepy 123 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 3: in bunk bets. So ICE social distancing is just impossible. 124 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 5: Now we set out of forty months, we are a 125 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 5: lot of people together here. 126 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 3: That was Lady Vasquez Moreno, who's a Cuban accountant who's 127 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 3: seeking asylum in the United States, and she's one of 128 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 3: about six of the women in that dorm who I've 129 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 3: spoken to. 130 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 5: We have from Quarantine Science March three. 131 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 3: They were already dealing with a quarantine for the flus. 132 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 5: Some of us we have age one and one. The 133 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 5: flu are weak. 134 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 3: Their bodies are already weakened both by the flu but 135 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 3: also what detension conditions are. The food in detention centers 136 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 3: is notoriously bad and not nutritious. So when I ask 137 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 3: people what they eat, they say basically bread, potatoes, sometimes 138 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 3: sweet bread. They always say all flour. Everything's from flours. 139 00:07:51,880 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 3: So their immune systems are already weakened. And then when 140 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 3: it comes to cleaning supplies, I've been hearing for weeks 141 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 3: complaints that there aren't enough, we don't have how to clean. 142 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:03,240 Speaker 5: The day was how to clean the fonts? You know, 143 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 5: how the d are the fonts? 144 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 3: If you think about it, there's only a couple telephones, 145 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 3: and every single person is making calls on those phones, 146 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 3: touching them. There are no disinfectant wipes available to wipe 147 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 3: it down between calls. 148 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 5: We are living with the bacteria. We don't have anything 149 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 5: to clean in these dorms. 150 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 3: There's maybe about four toilets that eighty people are using 151 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 3: six showers that ad people are rotating through, so they're 152 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 3: just all touching the same surfaces, all at the same time. 153 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 3: And they've asked for disinfectant wipes to try to do 154 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 3: a minimum. 155 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 5: Not so sometimes if we had when we ask the 156 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 5: thing we need, they say they don't have. 157 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:42,599 Speaker 3: And one of the things that was most striking and 158 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 3: talking with lady and other women, they all had the 159 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 3: same fears and said the same things. 160 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:50,200 Speaker 5: And we are scared because the situation off the commnently. 161 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 5: We know all the copying nineteen. 162 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:55,920 Speaker 3: When they watch the TV they see doctor Fauci explaining 163 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 3: the recommendations for how you stay safe from this virus. 164 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:05,079 Speaker 5: We know if one coronavirus come into this Centris, it's 165 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:08,319 Speaker 5: one to be like the domin effect. 166 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 3: I just said on their website that there is access 167 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:12,599 Speaker 3: to soap within its facilities. When I reached out to 168 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:15,240 Speaker 3: the geogroup about this, they said the same thing, but 169 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:17,679 Speaker 3: did not respond to follow up questions about whether they 170 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 3: also sell that soap in the commissaria and at what price. 171 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 2: In fact, you would think that in detention facilities where 172 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:26,800 Speaker 2: there may be potentially hundreds of people you would think 173 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:31,320 Speaker 2: that there would be twenty four hour medical doctors on site. 174 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 2: That's not the case. The people who are on site 175 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 2: most of the time happen to be like nurses or 176 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:40,959 Speaker 2: physicians assistants, and only when it's kind of an emergency 177 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:42,720 Speaker 2: do they call the medical doctor in right. 178 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:45,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, So you especially at a lot of the detention 179 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:47,560 Speaker 3: centers I've rouen Befornia, not only is it nurses, but 180 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 3: it's nurses assistant. So it's you know, basically kind of 181 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 3: the lowest level professional qualification for nurse. People who really 182 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:55,920 Speaker 3: aren't in a position to be responding to complex cases. 183 00:09:56,040 --> 00:10:00,200 Speaker 5: I have condition to keep up safe. They have not 184 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 5: the right medicing for emergency. We do have a doctor 185 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 5: full time only assistance of meris. 186 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 3: One of the constants of talking to people in detention 187 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:13,240 Speaker 3: is having medical requests that they submit be ignored for days, 188 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 3: and then when they finally do what almost happens in 189 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:17,559 Speaker 3: seems like every case of someone I talk to is 190 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 3: they're given ibuprofen. That's basically the only thing that people 191 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:22,839 Speaker 3: ever get. And sometimes if they have mental health issues, 192 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 3: they may be given sleeping pills or antidepressants, but those 193 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 3: three drugs are the ones that I hear time and 194 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:30,199 Speaker 3: time again of immigrants being prescribed. 195 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 2: So a lot of these detention facilities are run by 196 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:38,440 Speaker 2: private companies, part of the private prison industry now running 197 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 2: detention facilities for immigrants and refugees. So ICE and federal 198 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:47,200 Speaker 2: agencies are facing a class action lawsuit that accuses them 199 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 2: of disregarding the health needs of immigrants. Is that this 200 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:55,240 Speaker 2: is a lawsuit that was existing prior to COVID and 201 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:56,680 Speaker 2: then just intensified. 202 00:10:57,440 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 3: Yes, so there was a lawsuit. And that's an important 203 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:01,320 Speaker 3: thing to note about all of this is the ICE 204 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 3: detention centers and the for profit detention centers they contract 205 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:07,840 Speaker 3: with the health systems within them were stressed and broken 206 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 3: long before COVID nineteen hit, and this is just going 207 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 3: to additional stress. So what's happening here as they filed 208 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 3: an emergency motion as part of that lawsuit you just mentioned, Maria, 209 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 3: where they're going to push for the emergency release of 210 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:22,319 Speaker 3: people who are particularly vulnerable, so people over sixty years 211 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:24,679 Speaker 3: old or with pre existing health conditions, of which there 212 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 3: are many still in ICE detention centers. 213 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:32,760 Speaker 2: So can you help us understand this notion that, as 214 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 2: you know, I've been reporting on this for so long 215 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:38,680 Speaker 2: that immigrants and migrants and detention and refugees and detention 216 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:46,199 Speaker 2: are often treated quite disrespectfully. What are you worried about 217 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 2: what's happening right now in terms of those attitudes impacting 218 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 2: how the people who are supposed to be caring about 219 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:58,199 Speaker 2: immigrants are actually treating them in this moment. 220 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:01,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, sadly. Two. The words had often come up in 221 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:03,960 Speaker 3: my conversations with people in ice custody in terms of 222 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 3: how guards treat them. Are they treat us like children 223 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:09,440 Speaker 3: or they treat us like animals. So last week I 224 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 3: reported on an incident where their geogroup at one of 225 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 3: their detention centers, it's called the Lassau Ice Processing Center, 226 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:18,640 Speaker 3: had brought in someone to do a presentation on COVID 227 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 3: nineteen to kind of show them that they were concerned 228 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:22,959 Speaker 3: about this and that they were taking their safety and 229 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 3: into consideration. 230 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 4: I came in, I sat down, I started hearing people 231 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:29,679 Speaker 4: have questions, and then so many people started interrupting. 232 00:12:30,360 --> 00:12:33,240 Speaker 3: Hearing from a woman named Marlene, and she's spent the 233 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 3: vast majority of her life in the United States. She 234 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:38,080 Speaker 3: came to the United States from Raynosa, just across the border. 235 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 3: When she was three years old, and you couldn't, you. 236 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:44,960 Speaker 4: Know, answer the question, or they couldn't answer the question. 237 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:47,280 Speaker 4: So then things started getting out of control. 238 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:49,880 Speaker 3: The women, eighty women in one room, felt that they 239 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 3: that geogroup was being evasive. 240 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 4: The officer, I don't know who they are, Captain, lieutenant, 241 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 4: people in white that were in the back, you know, 242 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:02,280 Speaker 4: standing got to the point where they said, if you 243 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:06,319 Speaker 4: guys can't you know, in another word, to be civil. 244 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 3: Then we're going to leave. The women started asking very 245 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 3: basic and very obvious questions like, hey, you're talking about 246 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 3: social distancing. Look at us. There's eighty of us in 247 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:16,520 Speaker 3: this room. How are we going to do social distancing 248 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,199 Speaker 3: when we're sleeping in bunk beds? And the detention center 249 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 3: didn't have a good answer because there isn't a good answer. 250 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:26,960 Speaker 4: And the doctor that would answer the question was kind 251 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:31,720 Speaker 4: of being evasive to some extent where she would and 252 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 4: then she would turn and answer somebody else's question and 253 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:35,959 Speaker 4: not really answer the other person. So that's why she 254 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:38,559 Speaker 4: wouldn't start getting upset and say answer my question. 255 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:49,000 Speaker 3: And so tensions rose and eventually escalated to the point 256 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:50,640 Speaker 3: where when they opened. 257 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:53,200 Speaker 4: The door, everybody was at the door already upset, and 258 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:56,840 Speaker 4: they started shoving to try to get out and you know, 259 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 4: to kind of make a stand. And then the assistant 260 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:04,520 Speaker 4: administrative assistant she all I see her is just spraying. 261 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:07,280 Speaker 3: Women were pepper sprayed directly in the face during this. 262 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:10,400 Speaker 4: Then I hear everybody crowding in the front window and 263 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:14,120 Speaker 4: screaming and yelling, and somebody threw something at the window 264 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:17,440 Speaker 4: to like break it, but obviously you can't break tempered 265 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:19,040 Speaker 4: glass or however these windows are. 266 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 3: And then the pepper spray lingered in the air in 267 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:22,840 Speaker 3: this room. They locked the door, left the women in 268 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 3: the room for about an hour. As women I've spoken 269 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:27,240 Speaker 3: with many of them. They said. Women were coughing, their 270 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 3: eyes were red, some fainted, some of them had asthma. 271 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 1: So then I. 272 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 4: Went back to my bed and sent a text message 273 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:37,960 Speaker 4: to my daughter. They just pepper sprayed us. Everybody's choking, 274 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 4: gagging and throwing up. 275 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:39,920 Speaker 1: Help. 276 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 3: A Nice spokesman confirmed that women were pepper sprayed at 277 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:45,800 Speaker 3: the LaSalle Ice Processing Center, saying that four women were 278 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 3: directly pepper sprayed when they tried to force their way 279 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:50,920 Speaker 3: out of the dorm area, and confirmed that there were 280 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:52,880 Speaker 3: seventy nine women in the room at the time. 281 00:14:53,520 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 2: So, Noah, that sounds like the worst possible decision to make, 282 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 2: which is to pepper spray a group of people in 283 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:10,120 Speaker 2: an enclosed area, forcing them to essentially be coughing on 284 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 2: each other and rubbing their eyes for an entire hour. 285 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 2: I mean, this just sounds it sounds ridiculous. 286 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:22,000 Speaker 3: It really does. And I would also point out about this, 287 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 3: this is the third time in Louisiana that week that 288 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 3: people had been pepper sprayed at detention facilities. And then 289 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:30,400 Speaker 3: there was a fourth incident on Monday where again during 290 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:33,800 Speaker 3: a protest in Texas at another Geogroup detention center where 291 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 3: people were protesting about the new coronavirus, people were all 292 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:39,760 Speaker 3: about sixty people were pepper sprayed in that incident. So 293 00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:42,280 Speaker 3: it's part of a trend where you see people advocating 294 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 3: for their rights, advocating for their release, and what happens 295 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 3: is they're met with this incredibly harsh response by a 296 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:49,120 Speaker 3: private prison company. 297 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 2: Noel Lenard, a reporter with Mother Jones magazine, thank you 298 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 2: so much for joining us at Latino USA, and thank 299 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 2: you for all of your reporting. 300 00:15:56,560 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 3: Thank you so much for having me on Maria. 301 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:06,960 Speaker 2: As of this taping, at least thirteen detainees and seven 302 00:16:07,040 --> 00:16:12,200 Speaker 2: detention facility employees have already tested positive for COVID nineteen. 303 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 2: Coming up on Latino Usay, Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro joins US, 304 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 2: and we'll take a look at the demand to release immigrants. 305 00:16:22,920 --> 00:17:09,720 Speaker 2: We're in the custody of ICE. Stay with us. Yes, Hey, 306 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:13,440 Speaker 2: we're back, and we've been talking about the impact that 307 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:16,720 Speaker 2: the COVID nineteen pandemic is having at Immigration and Customs 308 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 2: Enforcement detention facilities. Before the break, we heard about some 309 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 2: of the dire conditions that detainees are facing. Some members 310 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 2: of Congress have been vocal about this. On March thirty first, 311 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:33,160 Speaker 2: the Congressional Hispanic Caucus convened a virtual press conference where 312 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:36,640 Speaker 2: they called on the federal government, the Department of Homeland Security, 313 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 2: and more specifically on ICE to release some of those 314 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 2: in custody, starting with low risk detainees, vulnerable immigrants, and 315 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:49,240 Speaker 2: migrant children. To hear more about those demands, we welcome 316 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 2: Congressman Juaquin Castro, he's chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. 317 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:55,920 Speaker 2: Chairman Castro, welcome to Latino USA. 318 00:17:56,119 --> 00:17:58,720 Speaker 6: It's great to be with you. Maria so we're. 319 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:01,119 Speaker 2: Going to talk about what's happening in terms of this 320 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:07,120 Speaker 2: pandemic and what's happening with vulnerable people, particularly immigrants, immigrants 321 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:11,440 Speaker 2: and detention refugees. These are many of them very very 322 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 2: desperate people. So when the coronavirus pandemic reached the United States, 323 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 2: the first reaction of ICE, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, 324 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 2: back in March was to say that it that it 325 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:25,520 Speaker 2: was going to scale back arrests in response to the pandemic. 326 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:27,679 Speaker 2: I mean, that's the first thing we heard. Were you 327 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:30,360 Speaker 2: looking up for that? And has it happened? 328 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:31,120 Speaker 4: Yeah? 329 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:33,879 Speaker 6: You know, I actually thought that their first response was 330 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 6: the correct one for public safety and the humane thing 331 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:42,280 Speaker 6: to do. But after that, it seemed as though the 332 00:18:42,320 --> 00:18:45,119 Speaker 6: White House, whether it was President Trump or Steven Miller, 333 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 6: jumped all over ICE and they reversed their position, and 334 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:52,480 Speaker 6: they continued to do and as far as I can tell, 335 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 6: have continued to do interior enforcement. And that's been very 336 00:18:56,800 --> 00:19:00,159 Speaker 6: troubling because you still have about thirty five thousand and 337 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 6: people who are in iceed attention, and every day we 338 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:10,160 Speaker 6: see new cases of either ICE personnel or detainees who 339 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:12,760 Speaker 6: were infected with a coronavirus and we've also made the 340 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 6: case to HHS about the children who are in their 341 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:18,720 Speaker 6: so called shelters. 342 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 2: And HHS is the Department of Health and Human Services, 343 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:25,760 Speaker 2: and they're responsible specifically for the children, right. 344 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:28,440 Speaker 6: That's right. I remember going to one of these facilities 345 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:32,200 Speaker 6: and there were well over one hundred and fifty kids 346 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:36,200 Speaker 6: in the same room, this large room, but stacked from 347 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:39,639 Speaker 6: bed to bed. And so, whether it's HHS facilities or 348 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:44,400 Speaker 6: ICE detention facilities, the federal government needs to place these 349 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 6: folks somewhere else. And you know what's remarkable is that 350 00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 6: five years ago, many of these folks would not even 351 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:53,560 Speaker 6: have been in iceed atention. For example, they would have 352 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:56,439 Speaker 6: been placed with family members as they go through the 353 00:19:56,440 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 6: asylum process. And so there are a lot of folks 354 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:03,119 Speaker 6: who like to use this idea of these people being 355 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:07,080 Speaker 6: all criminals or rapists or murderers, and that's just not 356 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:10,440 Speaker 6: the case. The analysis that i'd seen said that about 357 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:13,840 Speaker 6: ten percent of the folks that are in detention have 358 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:18,679 Speaker 6: what ICE considers to be a serious criminal background. And 359 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 6: that's why I say, if there are folks who are 360 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:23,480 Speaker 6: an imminent threat or could be an imminent threat to 361 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:26,160 Speaker 6: public safety, then you go in front of a court 362 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:28,639 Speaker 6: and you make that case. But otherwise, I think the 363 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 6: default is that you've got to get people out of 364 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 6: that situation because you're playing Russian Roulette with their lives. 365 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:38,679 Speaker 2: So, as the chairman of the Congressional Listmanic Caucus, the 366 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:42,359 Speaker 2: caucus did call for the Department of Homeland Security, and 367 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 2: of course ICE is a part of DHS, to release 368 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 2: non priority and low risk detainees, vulnerable immigrants, migrant children 369 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:53,680 Speaker 2: who are in US custody. Have you had to make 370 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:54,880 Speaker 2: that demand before? 371 00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:59,399 Speaker 6: Well, Look, we disagree with most of the way that 372 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 6: the administration, the Trump administration has handled detention detention in 373 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:09,399 Speaker 6: this country. ICED attention, HHS detention for children has become 374 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:13,439 Speaker 6: a multi billion dollar industry. It's an industry where a 375 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:15,199 Speaker 6: lot of people are making big money off of it. 376 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 6: So we have disagreed strongly with President Trump and his policies, 377 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:22,600 Speaker 6: and even before that, disagreed with some of the Obama 378 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 6: administration policies, and we're also vocal about that. 379 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 2: Does that mean, Chairman, that you're basically saying you don't 380 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:31,280 Speaker 2: have a lot of hope from this administration in doing 381 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:34,520 Speaker 2: anything in terms of this call for I think the 382 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:37,639 Speaker 2: hashtag has released them all, you know, protests in southern 383 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:42,359 Speaker 2: California in cars near detention facilities asking for them to 384 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:45,080 Speaker 2: be released. Are you saying that you don't have any 385 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:49,600 Speaker 2: expectation that the administration will respond to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. 386 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:52,320 Speaker 6: Well, you know, I always try to hold out hope. 387 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:56,160 Speaker 6: I always try to believe that what we're working towards 388 00:21:56,280 --> 00:21:59,920 Speaker 6: is possible. You know, if we go through this period 389 00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 6: and the worst happens and there are folks that die 390 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:10,120 Speaker 6: in iced attention or children that die at HHS, would 391 00:22:10,119 --> 00:22:12,920 Speaker 6: it surprise me, to be honest, No, it wouldn't. It 392 00:22:12,920 --> 00:22:16,600 Speaker 6: wouldn't surprise me because this president has been especially cruel 393 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:19,840 Speaker 6: in how he's treated people. But I do still have 394 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:22,919 Speaker 6: hope and I hold out hope that folks in the 395 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:26,520 Speaker 6: administration will prevail upon the President to do the right thing. 396 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:31,560 Speaker 2: So, the issues that migrant's refugees are facing not only 397 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:34,479 Speaker 2: are happening within the United States, but as you know, 398 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:39,399 Speaker 2: the Trump administration has now delayed court hearings for asylum 399 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:44,520 Speaker 2: seekers who were sent to Mexico to wait for their cases. 400 00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 2: This is the so called Remain in Mexico program. So 401 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:51,440 Speaker 2: the administration is saying that this is because of concerns 402 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 2: about the coronavirus pandemic. So what happens now in terms 403 00:22:57,119 --> 00:23:01,800 Speaker 2: of these asylum seekers who quote unquote did it the 404 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:04,680 Speaker 2: right way and have been told to wait in Mexico 405 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:08,159 Speaker 2: and now they're being told you're just going to have 406 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:11,399 Speaker 2: to wait more. What is the what does this look like? 407 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:13,919 Speaker 6: Well, I think you know, in the immediate moment, I 408 00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:17,600 Speaker 6: think many people understand that the normal functions of government 409 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:23,400 Speaker 6: have been somewhat disrupted, so that that part is understandable 410 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:26,000 Speaker 6: that a hearing would get pushed back a week, two weeks, 411 00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:29,480 Speaker 6: or some period of time. What I'm concerned about is 412 00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:33,960 Speaker 6: that once this moment has passed us and the immediate 413 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:37,520 Speaker 6: danger of the pandemic is gone, that the Trump administration 414 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:40,679 Speaker 6: is going to try to make permanent some of the 415 00:23:40,840 --> 00:23:45,880 Speaker 6: changes that they have instituted now. And so, for example, 416 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:49,879 Speaker 6: as you mentioned halting court hearings, they could drag their 417 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:54,119 Speaker 6: feet on starting those up again, or anybody who comes 418 00:23:54,119 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 6: to claim asylum, sending them right back without any due 419 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:01,160 Speaker 6: process again, they could drag their feed and keep that 420 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:03,840 Speaker 6: as try to keep it as a more permanent fixture. 421 00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:05,679 Speaker 6: I think that's what we're going to have to be 422 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:08,199 Speaker 6: especially vigilant about so. 423 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:10,920 Speaker 2: One thing that has happened during this pandemic is that 424 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:14,240 Speaker 2: many people in the United States, I think, I'm hoping, 425 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:17,880 Speaker 2: are really looking at in the ways that which farm 426 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:24,720 Speaker 2: workers and food service workers, restaurant workers, supermarket workers. You know, 427 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:28,119 Speaker 2: many of these essential workers, the people who are delivering 428 00:24:28,280 --> 00:24:31,600 Speaker 2: food to your house pizzas in New York City, et cetera. 429 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:34,640 Speaker 2: You know many many of them are Latinos, and Latinos 430 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:36,800 Speaker 2: you still see them here in New York City riding 431 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:40,480 Speaker 2: their bikes delivering food to New Yorkers who won't leave 432 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:43,960 Speaker 2: their apartments, and rightly so. But you are urging Congress 433 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:46,119 Speaker 2: to pass a follow up to the relief and stimulus 434 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:49,960 Speaker 2: law that expands support for all Latinos. Can you elaborate 435 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:50,440 Speaker 2: a little bit. 436 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:50,720 Speaker 5: More on that. 437 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:54,959 Speaker 6: Yeah, there are several different priorities that the Congressional Hispanic 438 00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:58,000 Speaker 6: Caucus has going into what will be a fourth round 439 00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:02,880 Speaker 6: of stemul less relief for the country, and a few 440 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:04,920 Speaker 6: of them one of them is Puerto Rico. I mean, 441 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:10,200 Speaker 6: you have a place that is still reeling from Hurricane 442 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:16,639 Speaker 6: Maria and then severe earthquakes that needs extra help because 443 00:25:16,680 --> 00:25:20,280 Speaker 6: they've been dealing with those things and now with this virus, 444 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:24,320 Speaker 6: and the Congress should take care of Puerto Rico. And 445 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:27,760 Speaker 6: a second thing is, as you mentioned, we found that 446 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:31,080 Speaker 6: eighty four percent of Latinos in the United States do 447 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:33,919 Speaker 6: not have jobs that allow them to work from home. 448 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:37,399 Speaker 6: So that means you have eighty four percent of the 449 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:41,600 Speaker 6: Latino workforce that's still out there working. And so we 450 00:25:41,720 --> 00:25:46,359 Speaker 6: and many others believe that in the next round, these 451 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:50,560 Speaker 6: folks who are essential workers, farm workers, grocery store clerks, 452 00:25:51,240 --> 00:25:55,960 Speaker 6: healthcare workers, certainly the garbage men and women, the people 453 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:58,399 Speaker 6: that still are going to work and making sure that 454 00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:01,760 Speaker 6: everything functions, that they should receive a kind of hazard 455 00:26:01,800 --> 00:26:06,400 Speaker 6: pay from their government or their company as a recognition 456 00:26:07,119 --> 00:26:10,359 Speaker 6: of the sacrifice that they're making during what is a 457 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:14,120 Speaker 6: very dangerous time to be out and about and working. 458 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:18,080 Speaker 6: And so we're going to be working with Democratic leadership 459 00:26:18,119 --> 00:26:20,560 Speaker 6: to try to get that done as part of the 460 00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:24,919 Speaker 6: coronavirus relief package. And it has been both ironic and 461 00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:29,640 Speaker 6: very beautiful to see people now realize that a lot 462 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:32,480 Speaker 6: of the folks who for years didn't get the respect 463 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:39,080 Speaker 6: that they deserved, farm workers, sanitation workers, others have now 464 00:26:39,119 --> 00:26:43,919 Speaker 6: become It's clear because of this pandemic. Essential. That's what 465 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:47,200 Speaker 6: they always were, but it's much clearer now that they 466 00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:47,920 Speaker 6: are essential. 467 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:57,959 Speaker 2: Waking Castro, Congressman, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Concus, thank 468 00:26:58,000 --> 00:26:59,960 Speaker 2: you so much for joining me on leat you Know USA. 469 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:00,280 Speaker 3: Thank you. 470 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:07,520 Speaker 2: Fucking Castro is a member of the US House of 471 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:11,919 Speaker 2: Representatives for Texas twentieth Congressional District and he's the chairman 472 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:17,600 Speaker 2: of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. And a quick update. After 473 00:27:17,640 --> 00:27:21,360 Speaker 2: this episode was recorded, Immigration and Customs enforcement started releasing 474 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:24,679 Speaker 2: some people in Louisiana and a few other states with 475 00:27:24,840 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 2: medical conditions that may make them vulnerable to COVID nineteen, 476 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:44,240 Speaker 2: but most immigrants remain in detention. This episode was produced 477 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:47,040 Speaker 2: by Miel Massias and Alissa Scarce and edited by Luis 478 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:51,800 Speaker 2: Trees and Sophia Palisaka. The Latino USA team includes Antoia Serejido, 479 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:55,680 Speaker 2: Jenes Jamoca, and Alejandra Salasad, with help from Joannde Luna 480 00:27:55,760 --> 00:27:59,600 Speaker 2: and Raoul Berees. Our engineers are Stephanie Lebou and Julia Caruso. 481 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:02,800 Speaker 2: Additional engineering this week by Leah Shaw, our director of 482 00:28:02,840 --> 00:28:06,719 Speaker 2: Programming and operations is Natalia Fiedlhortz. Our digital editor is 483 00:28:06,720 --> 00:28:10,320 Speaker 2: Amandel Cantra. Our intern is Julia Rocha. Today we say 484 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:14,680 Speaker 2: goodbye to another wonderful intern, Juja nes Esparsa, who's heading 485 00:28:14,720 --> 00:28:19,320 Speaker 2: back to Northwestern University in Chicago digitally for her last 486 00:28:19,320 --> 00:28:22,280 Speaker 2: semester of college. Will miss you, Juynz. Thank you for 487 00:28:22,359 --> 00:28:25,200 Speaker 2: all of your hard work and for your smile. Our 488 00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:28,040 Speaker 2: theme music was composed by Zee Rubinos. If you like 489 00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:30,640 Speaker 2: the music you heard on this episode, stop by Latinousa 490 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:34,000 Speaker 2: dot org and check out our weekly Spotify playlist. I'm 491 00:28:34,040 --> 00:28:36,600 Speaker 2: your host and executive producer Marino Rosa. Join us again 492 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:38,880 Speaker 2: on our next episode, and in the meantime, I'll see 493 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:42,000 Speaker 2: you on all of our social media Asta approxima Chao. 494 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:47,920 Speaker 6: Funding for Latino USA is coverage of a culture of 495 00:28:47,960 --> 00:28:50,520 Speaker 6: health is made possible in part by a grant from 496 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:55,200 Speaker 6: the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Latino USA is made possible 497 00:28:55,240 --> 00:28:59,880 Speaker 6: in part by W. K. Kellogg Foundation, a partner with 498 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:02,280 Speaker 6: Communities where Children Come. 499 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 4: First, and the John D. And Catherine T. 500 00:29:05,960 --> 00:29:06,880 Speaker 6: MacArthur Foundation.