See film 'Lost in Detention' at Geneva church Friday
Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva continues its "Friday Flicks" series with the 2011 documentary "Lost in Detention" at 7 p.m. Friday, July 27, in the common room at the church, 102 S. Second St.
Once again, immigrants and the government enforcement policies are front page news. However, immigration enforcement policies and actions have been harsh for a number of years dating back to the Obama and Bush administrations. While the separation of children from their families for illegal immigrants is new, the overall system the United States has implemented has been increasingly punitive for years.
This month's film revisits the changes that were made 10 years ago and raises a troubling question. Why do we continue to believe that more draconian actions or a wall will stop people desperate to escape the violence and economic devastation in their countries?
The Obama administration deported or detained more immigrants than any other administration. The 2011 documentary, "Lost in Detention" begins with a closer look at the Secure Communities program, in which Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) records are shared with local law enforcement agencies. While the goal has been to target criminals, thousands of non-criminal immigrants have also been deported.
Once illegal immigrants are detained they are sent to detention centers, often far from their homes. An investigation uncovered many cases of sexual and physical assault by guards against detainees. The larger issue is that detainees have little, if any, legal rights or recourse to confront abuse.
The film is part of the fourth-Friday Film program that is sponsored by the Social Justice Team of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva and is free to the public. The public is encouraged to register at uusg.org/friday-flicks/ to receive email notices of future programs.
The Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva, established in 1842 and the oldest church in Geneva, is a diverse, welcoming community that endeavors to make its covenant a living reality. They provide religious education and opportunities for spiritual growth. They encourage individual and mutual responsibility as together we work to be a liberal religious voice in the community and a force for compassionate social justice. For more information, visit www.uusg.org.