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With one week until @JoeBiden's inauguration, the burning question in Dilley is, "will he free the families who have been detained for a year and a half?"
As of today, the longest-detained child in ICE detention has been there for 512 days. She is 9 years old. Let's call her L.
As of today, the longest-detained child in ICE detention has been there for 512 days. She is 9 years old. Let's call her L.
L and her mom entered the United States seeking asylum on August 21 2019, and have been in ICE's jail for children ever since. Her 4 friends have also been detained for an average of 496 days. They have all spent birthdays, 2 Christmases, and 2 New Years Eves in baby jail.
After 10 months of lockdown, an election cycle, widespread political and civic unrest, and more; time has never felt more distorted. Let us remind you just how long 1.5 years is (technically, how long half that time is, because this thread got as long as it can go by May 2020).
Start with yourself. Do you remember what you were doing in August 2019? Go back, check your calendar and inbox. Seems like a whole other lifetime ago, doesn’t it? These five children have been stuck in the same 55 acre detention complex this whole time.
8/28/19: @GretaThunberg arrived in New York after her emissions-free sailing trip across the Atlantic ocean -- 504 days ago; L's 7th day of detention.
9/13/19 Felicity Huffman sentenced to 14 days in prison in college admissions scandal -- 488 days ago, L's 24th day in baby jail
9/13/19 Felicity Huffman sentenced to 14 days in prison in college admissions scandal -- 488 days ago, L's 24th day in baby jail
9/24/19 @SpeakerPelosi launched a formal impeachment probe (for Trump's first impeachment). On 12/18/19 the House voted to impeach. On 2/5/20 Trump was acquitted by the senate.
By the end of this 4.5-month impeachment process, 8-year-old L had been detained for 169 days.
By the end of this 4.5-month impeachment process, 8-year-old L had been detained for 169 days.
10/9/19: Pacific Gas and Electric cut the power of nearly 1M people to prevent CA wildfires.
10/13/19: @Simone_Biles became the most decorated gymnast in history
10/14/19: 8 year-old L completed 55 days in an ICE jail for immigrant children.
10/13/19: @Simone_Biles became the most decorated gymnast in history
10/14/19: 8 year-old L completed 55 days in an ICE jail for immigrant children.
On October 23, 2019, @KyrieIrving broke the NBA record for points on debut, scoring 50 points for the Brooklyn Nets.
That was 448 days ago, 8-year-old L's 64th day in ICE detention. She and her mom are still detained today, hoping @JoeBiden will finally allow them to be free.
That was 448 days ago, 8-year-old L's 64th day in ICE detention. She and her mom are still detained today, hoping @JoeBiden will finally allow them to be free.
10/26/19: US special forces in Syria assassinated ISIS founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. That was 445 days ago, L's 67th day in detention.
11/1/19: @BetoORourke withdrew from the US democratic primary. That was 439 days ago, L's 73rd day in detention.
11/1/19: @BetoORourke withdrew from the US democratic primary. That was 439 days ago, L's 73rd day in detention.
On November 4, 2019, 462 people were freed from Oklahoma prisons during largest mass commutation in US history.
On that day, 8-year-old L had been detained for 76 days just for entering this country to seek asylum. Will @JoeBiden and @Transition46 finally let her be free?
On that day, 8-year-old L had been detained for 76 days just for entering this country to seek asylum. Will @JoeBiden and @Transition46 finally let her be free?
On December 3, 2019, @KamalaHarris ended her Democratic primary campaign.
Also on December 3, 2019, 8-year-old L reached 105 days in detention.
She has since spent an additional 407 days in ICE family detention. @KamalaHarris, will you finally let her be free?
Also on December 3, 2019, 8-year-old L reached 105 days in detention.
She has since spent an additional 407 days in ICE family detention. @KamalaHarris, will you finally let her be free?
The US Space Force was founded on December 20, 2019. That was 390 days ago; L had been detained for 122 days.
The US killed Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike in Baghdad on January 3, 2020. That was 376 days ago; L had been detained for 136 days.
The US killed Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike in Baghdad on January 3, 2020. That was 376 days ago; L had been detained for 136 days.
On January 11 2020, Chinese media reported the country's first death from COVID-19. On January 22, China locked down the entire city of Wuhan.
In a family detention center in Dilley, TX, 8-year-old L, detained for 155 days, wondered if ICE would keep her jailed during a pandemic
In a family detention center in Dilley, TX, 8-year-old L, detained for 155 days, wondered if ICE would keep her jailed during a pandemic
1/26/20: Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash -- 353 days ago, L's 159th day in detention
2/1/20: Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowl LIV, their first victory in 50 years -- 347 days ago, L's 165th day in family detention
2/1/20: Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowl LIV, their first victory in 50 years -- 347 days ago, L's 165th day in family detention
On February 3, 2020, Iowa held its Democratic primary caucus. @PeteButtigieg won the most delegates while @SenSanders got the most votes.
That was 345 days ago, and L's 167th day in ICE family detention, where she has remained ever since.
That was 345 days ago, and L's 167th day in ICE family detention, where she has remained ever since.
On February 6, 2020, the first Coronavirus-related death was reported in the United States.
8 year old L spent her 170th day in ICE baby jail. Her lawyers were organizing to fight for her release from a congregate care setting before COVID-19 reached Texas. She's still there.
8 year old L spent her 170th day in ICE baby jail. Her lawyers were organizing to fight for her release from a congregate care setting before COVID-19 reached Texas. She's still there.
2/9/20: Parasite became the first non-English film to win Best Picture Academy Award.
That was 339 days ago, and L's 173rd day in ICE family detention.
That was 339 days ago, and L's 173rd day in ICE family detention.
On February 11 2020, prosecutors working the Roger Stone case resigned in protest over William Barr’s suggestion to reduce his sentence. On February 20, he was sentenced to 40 months in prison for obstructing a congressional investigation.
February 20 was L's 184th day in jail.
February 20 was L's 184th day in jail.
The first week of March 2020 saw 4 candidates drop out of the Democratic primaries:
3/1: @PeteButtigieg
3/2: @amyklobuchar
3/4: @MikeBloomberg
3/5: @SenWarren
3/7 was L's 200th day in ICE family detention. She turned 9 years old shortly after. She is still detained today.
3/1: @PeteButtigieg
3/2: @amyklobuchar
3/4: @MikeBloomberg
3/5: @SenWarren
3/7 was L's 200th day in ICE family detention. She turned 9 years old shortly after. She is still detained today.
March 13, 2020, Louisville, KY: Breonna Taylor was shot by police barging into her apartment with a no-knock warrant and a battering ram.
That was 306 days ago. L had been detained for 206 days.
That was 306 days ago. L had been detained for 206 days.
Also on March 13, 2020, Donald Trump declared a national emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On March 23, New York became the center of the pandemic, seeing over 5,700 cases a day.
March 23 was 196 days ago, L's 216th day in ICE family detention.
On March 23, New York became the center of the pandemic, seeing over 5,700 cases a day.
March 23 was 196 days ago, L's 216th day in ICE family detention.
4/6/20: A tiger at the Bronx zoo tested positive for COVID-19, the first known case of human to cat transmission-- 282 days ago, L's 230th day in jail
4/7/20: China, seeing no new COVID deaths for the first time, re-opened the city of Wuhan-- 281 days ago, L's 231st day in jail
4/7/20: China, seeing no new COVID deaths for the first time, re-opened the city of Wuhan-- 281 days ago, L's 231st day in jail
4/8/20: @SenSanders dropped out of the Democratic primary race -- 280 days ago, L's 232nd day in ICE detention
4/12/20: A huge storm of 40+ tornadoes killed 32 people across six states from Texas to South Carolina-- 276 days ago, L's 236th day in ICE family detention
4/12/20: A huge storm of 40+ tornadoes killed 32 people across six states from Texas to South Carolina-- 276 days ago, L's 236th day in ICE family detention
On April 23, 2020, Donald Trump talked about injecting disinfectant and UV lights into human body to treat COVID-19 at white house press conference.
That was 265 days, ago, 9-year-old L's 247th day in baby jail. Instead of listening to scientists, ICE chose to keep her detained
That was 265 days, ago, 9-year-old L's 247th day in baby jail. Instead of listening to scientists, ICE chose to keep her detained
4/28/20: US DOD released 3 previously classified videos of possible UFOs.
5/2/2020 fears continued to grow over an invasion of murder hornets.
That week, 9-year-old L completed her 256th day in ICE family detention.
5/2/2020 fears continued to grow over an invasion of murder hornets.
That week, 9-year-old L completed her 256th day in ICE family detention.
