response to book Feb6

I am surprised to hear that events like these would occur in the U.S, especially right under our noses. It is shocking to hear that paranoia would get the best of America. These events remind me of the red scare and McCarthyism during the cold war and of the internment camps for the Japanese during WWII. Although, we acknowledge these events as horrid mistakes in history books, it seems that America has yet again repeated this mistake of allowing paranoia overcome rationality. The paranoia blurs the ideals of liberty and justice, which our nation is based upon.

In fear, many innocent and unsuspecting immigrants are blamed for events for which they have no association with and as a consequence are detained. Tram Nguyen quotes Subhash Kateel who states, “After 9/11 it was just unbelievable, the scale with which specific populations started getting targeted” (7). It is also surprising to hear that many Americans are allowing such things to occur and support laws and enactments in the name of defense and protection. Also within the prisons, the fact that immigrants are treated far more poorly disturbs me. In reference to prison conditions for immigrants, Tram Nguyen states, “…the report nevertheless painted a clear picture of due process violations and human rights abuses” (19). Tram Nguyen paints a vivid picture of the post 9/11 paranoia that has taken place and is still taking place. She illustrates the human rights violations through the experiences of several immigrants with different backgrounds.

Question: Have conditions gotten better or has it been exacerbated by such things as the recent immigration debate?