by Julio Ricardo Varela
It is an extremist’s most exciting dream: set up a powerful lobbying group in Washington that unites the country’s top private jails and anti-immigrant legislators, have a few meetings to draft the law that would eventually be known as Arizona SB 1070, spread that law to other states to pass copycat bills, and have those private jails incarcerate those (mostly Latino) illegal immigrants to the tune of $5 billion in revenue.
Sounds like a typical liberal scare story, right?
Actually, no. This story is real. Illegal immigration has gone corporate, and the money involved can entice anyone who places the Almighty Dollar above the pain and suffering of human beings.
Enter Cuéntame, a group of “Latino Instigators” with close to 54,000 fans on Facebook. As their mission statement reads:
“Through short video, docu-series, interviews from our studio, the streets, or sent to us by you, we unite voices and create a powerful community. From tackling unjust immigration laws to exclusive features on Latino arts, music and film you will connect directly with fellow activists, artists, writers, figures and much more!”
This activism and Facebook success have propelled Cuéntame to launch a new investigation on the abuses of the private jail industry in the United States and how illegal immigrants are imprisoned. The group has released two brief videos (English and Spanish) about their cause:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuGE1VxVsYo&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pIy06BN4hk&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0]
If you are interested in learning more about what Cuéntame is doing, visit them at http://immigrantsforsale.org.
To learn more about Julio, visit Franky Benítez.
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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those
of the author and should not be understood to be shared by Being Latino, Inc.
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About Being Latino Contributors
As always, thank you, Being Latino, for the opportunity!
There are more black men in jail now than there were slaves in 1860. The U.S. has the highest percentage of its population in jail of any democracy in the world. It also has a higher percentage of minorities (relative to overall population) in jail than South Africa during apartheid. The reason is simple: jails are big business and the “business of America is business.” Not rights, not strengthening democracy, but profit. When corporations have right and people have none, the end result is never pretty.
This is an economic engine fueled by xenophobia. We must spread the word.
Gil, you are so right!
Bis business at its immoral worse.
So glad you’re getting the word out about this; it’s amazing how many people don’t realize that immigration detention centers are for-profit businesses…
Exactly!
Spectacular article!!!
Thanks, bro
I don’t know why, but it still amazes me how people can choose money over each other. Thank you for the information I will definitely be visiting the immigrantsforsale.org web site.
Excellent! Private jails have been consuming the our masses for a while now. http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-08-04/news/gladys-carrion-upstate-jails-for-city-kids-bronx/ Old article but still good on the topic.