The Migrant Caravan

It is quite evident that we, the American public (voters) are being distracted by Mr. Trump’s rather berserk assertions about the so-called migrant caravan.  The caravan is now being called an “invasion” and an “assault” requiring a deployment of a 5,200 member military force along the southern border.   Mr. Trump and Mr. Pence have both made the claim that there are “unknown Middle Easterners,” terrorists and MS-13 gang members in the midst of this so-called caravan.  These claims are not currently supported by intelligence on the ground. In spite of the lack of evidence about the “invasion,” the “unknown Middle Easterners,” terrorists and MS-13 gang members, the president continues to proclaim these caravan lies.  Even Shepherd Smith of Fox News has debunked the caravan conspiracy theories.

Did you know that the private immigration detention industry is booming under the current administration’s detention and immigration policies?  It is a multibillion dollar business.  I understand that Canadian pension funds are increasing their investments in the two largest US private detention corporations , CoreCivic, Inc. and GEO Group, Inc., because under the current government’s immigration policy they expect a big pay-out.  The more migrants who cross the border and are arrested the better the annual profits for these companies.  Under the Trump administration so far, the arrests (therefore the detention) of undocumented immigrants with no criminal record have tripled.  The “zero tolerance policy” separated children from their parents, but Mr. Trump has issued an executive order that families will now be detained together.  When the executive order was issued, the shares for CoreCivic and GEO Group increased significantly (because that means “more money”).  As far as I can tell, this is not a conspiracy theory.  It is, according to my research, a fact (rare as facts are these days) and we taxpayers are paying for it.

It was reported that liberal billionaire George Soros, a Jewish immigrant, paid the migrants to form the caravan.  This is not true.  Members of Congress and the president’s son, however, repeated this falsehood.  Social media platforms have amplified this lie.  This is a conspiracy theory and it has turned out to be a horrific one.  

Be aware of conspiracy theories.  Be aware of facts, too.  And seek to know the difference.  The fact that huge profits are being made by the private detention industry off of immigrants is just as revolting to me as the various caravan conspiracies.  

It is a turbulent time.  We must navigate the rough waters.