U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tried to depict a happy and healthy image of detention centers–where thousands of migrants continue to be held. Many are now calling ICE out for pushing propaganda.
On Thursday, ICE posted a string of photos from the Cibola County Correctional Center in New Mexico, a detention center that opened a separate section for transgender women in 2017.
The thread depicts high-quality photos of inmates smiling while reading or engaging in recreational activities, such as gardening and playing basketball.
Cibola’s medical & detention staff are trained in best practices for the care of transgender individuals. A dedicated custody resource coordinator ensures detainee access to care & services, an partnerships with local transgender orgs provide peer support & other services (3/) pic.twitter.com/yLxkPyDycb
— ICE (@ICEgov) June 13, 2019
“ICE is committed to upholding an immigration detention system that prioritizes the health, safety, and welfare of all of those in our care in custody, including LGBTI individuals,” read one of the tweets in the thread.
The irony of ICE touting a trans-friendly environment, especially during Pride, was infuriating to many. The safety of trans immigrants who are detained has come under increased scrutiny in the past few weeks.
On June 1, the second trans woman–within a year–died while in ICE custody.
politically splitting propaganda from ice during pride fuck u ice https://t.co/7NmHeL2U7g
— poboy (@rattlecoyote69) June 16, 2019
ICE tweeting about new trans-inclusive holding cells to try and garner positive attention from lgbts and liberals during pride month is so shameful and horrendous i cant even speak about it what fleas such cockroaches such snakes
— sori gay (@soridyke) June 15, 2019
Gay or straight, cia or trans—everyone starves and dies alike. Happy Pride from ICE!
— anthony bourdain’s noah reservations (@noahpsychs) June 15, 2019
Many immediately called out the photos as propaganda by an institution that has been mired in reports of controversial arrests, inhumane detention conditions, and deaths of at least five migrant children–all since President Donald Trump took office.
I cant explain how angry it gets me that ICE is on this damn app cheerfully spewing propaganda to make their concentration camps look like happy go lucky summer camps for migrants who want to find themselves through arts & crafts and sporting activities.
FUCK ICE FUCK ICE FUCK
— Sailor Space Junk
