The civil rights group APANO says the majority of these asylum seekers are South Asian who speak Hindi and Punjabi. A few more are Chinese. The Oregonian reports Rep Earl Blumenauer was one of four from Oregon’s congressional delegation who has visited the detainees.
“This is a shameful hour in U.S. history,” said Blumenauer. “I don’t care what your stance on immigration is, no one should favor ripping children out of their parents’ arms ….”
Concerned citizens have put out a call for bilingual volunteers for language assistance.
UPDATE: “123 immigrants seeking asylum have been detained & transferred to Oregon’s Sheridan federal prison in Yamhill County. The majority… are South Asian, who speak primarily Hindi and Punjabi” How to help : https://t.co/Qd4MOX7DVM TY @APANONews #FamiliesBelongTogether https://t.co/PDooNDN7d2
— Valarie Kaur (@valariekaur) June 18, 2018
President Trump’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants has been extended to asylum seekers. Many in this group identify as Sikh and Christian who are escaping religious prosecution from the Hindu majority, according to the Oregonian.
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