LOS ANGELES, CA – A federal judge based out of California is forcing ICE’s proverbial hand into releasing at least 250 detainees from custody by April 30th from a facility in Adelanto, California. Once again, all because of fears related to COVID-19.
Judge Terry J. Hatter orders #ICE to release 100 #immigrantdetainees from #Adelanto by next Monday & at least 150 more by April 30. More expected to be released. @ACLU_SoCal attorney Minju Cho estimates it could be 75 % of center’s population.https://t.co/S0IzpNPPcA via @sbsun
— Roxana Kopetman (@roxanakopetman) April 24, 2020
Judge Terry Hatter ruled on April 23rd that ICE has to release at least 100 detainees from the Adelanto facility by April 27th, and then an additional 150 by April 30th, making for a total of 250 releases by the end of the month.
To put things into perspective, that’s nearly 20% of the facility’s detainee population, as the facility currently hosts about 1,300 detainees.
It’s the same song and dance that we’ve heard over the past month, the clamoring of social distancing and the ilk.
Judge Hatter stated the following about what this reduced population must achieve:
“[The reduction must be at] a level that would allow the remaining detainees to maintain a social distance of 6 feet from each other at all times and at all places.”
The judge then provided examples of the all times/places mentioning:
“Including while sleeping, eating, showering, and going about other daily activities, except when there is a medical necessity or a safety emergency.”
One would hardly be surprised at the petitioners of said lawsuit: The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California. The lawsuit was filed on April 14th, alleging that the conditions within the Adelanto ICE facility was putting lives at risk.
Senior Attorney Jessica Bansal from the ACLU’s Southern California sect stated the following after the judge sided with their argument:
“We are relieved that people detained at Adelanto will now receive the protections for their lives and health that every human being deserves.”
This kind of nonsense is completely unprecedented.
We’re living in era where people are getting hemmed up for breaking social distancing guidelines and playing in parks, but we’re letting people out of jails and detention centers. So, violating immigration laws can get someone released from detention, but violating various stay-at-home orders gets people cited and arrested.
What’s Really Going On with the Economic Lockdowns
A Colorado father is arrested for playing catch with his daughter in a park.https://t.co/SRWkmhaxbN
— Il Cavaliere 🇺🇸 🇦🇱 🇺🇸 (@Il___Cavaliere) April 24, 2020
Even if my head was shaped like a tortilla, I wouldn’t be able to wrap my head around the absurdity in all this ongoing idiocy.
Then you’ve got this overreaching judge in Texas saying that if you don’t do something akin to a ninja mask in various public areas that the local government is going to reach into your wallet.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo can’t seem to stop pushing stupid policies. It’s like she’s trying to cause a county-wide uproar.
Her most recent attempt has to do with an order she passed demanding anyone over the age of 10 to wear masks in public.
That’s right. If you’re in Harris County, Texas, and you are anywhere other than your property (or exercising or going on outdoor walks), you will be required, starting Monday, to wear something that covers your nose and mouth. The order is set to last 30 days.
Hidalgo said:
“We are not asking people to wear a medical mask or an N95 mask. You can use an old T-shirt, perhaps. … The idea is just to cover your nose and mouth.”
If you don’t, you could be looking at a fine of $1,000.
NEW: I’ve signed the order that requires face covers in public for the next 30 days, a critical period in our fight against an insidious & invisible killer. This is no time to let our guard down. pic.twitter.com/DJbjiW6Umt
— Lina Hidalgo (@LinaHidalgoTX) April 22, 2020
Her order was met with immediate and intense scrutiny from multiple sources.
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said that the order was “the ultimate government overreach.”
Patrick also noted that her order for mandatory masks came the same day that a temporary hospital was going to be close down because it was not needed.
He added:
“These kind of confused government policies fuel public anger — and rightfully so.”
Representative Dan Crenshaw also weighed in, saying that “commonsense guidelines” should never lead to “unjust tyranny.”
On a tweet, Crenshaw said:
“Should guidelines for masks in confined spaces be emphatically promoted? Absolutely. But we will NEVER support 180 days in jail or $1,000 fine for not wearing a mask.”
No. No. No.
Should guidelines for masks in confined spaces be emphatically promoted? Absolutely.
But we will NEVER support 180 days in jail or $1,000 fine for not wearing a mask.
Do not let commonsense guidelines lead to unjust tyranny.https://t.co/VZDceCHha6
— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) April 22, 2020
Of course, the Houston Police Officers’ Union spoke out against the tyrannical measure as well.
Joe Gamaldi, President of the union, issued a statement that read, in part:
“Now we want to be very clear, the Houston Police Officers’ Union believes everyone should be wearing a mask in public, in order to protect themselves from the virus and we are encouraging all of our officers to wear a mask.
However, we draw the line at the draconian measures Hidalgo has decided to engage in.
Our officers work every single day to bridge the gap with our community and earn their trust, we will not stand idly by and allow Hidalgo to tear that bridge down with her horrific leadership and echo chamber decision making.”
The union has also attempted to get an opinion of the Attorney General’s Office on the legality of the matter, particularly regarding a penalty imposed for failure to comply with the mask order.
Gamaldi went on to say:
“It is clear the so-called leader of Harris County lacks any critical thinking skills, but let me assure the public, our officers do! The last thing any of us need to do is kick our community while they’re down.”
Everyone should be wearing a mask in public, I wear 1 everyday. But making not wearing 1 punishable by law, and asking our officers to enforce it, will do irreparable damage to our relationship with the community. We are already stretched too thin without having to enforce this. pic.twitter.com/BwxEJgHvkq
— Joe Gamaldi (@JoeGamaldi) April 22, 2020
Hidalgo sets an extremely backwards and tyrannical order such as mask-wearing, and who does she think is going to be out there enforcing the ridiculous laws? Obviously, the police are supposed to be.
And who are people going to complain against if/when an arrest for such an offense is made?
Of course, the police. Because they’re the solution to everything, and also to blame for everything.
Luckily, Gamaldi reminds his officers, they have the ability to exercise discretion, which he encouraged them to use.
He also said:
“Houston Police Officers are already stretched entirely too thin during the COVID-19 pandemic. Violent crime is up this year (murders by 35%), property crime is up (burglaries by nearly 30%), and HPD officers are staffing testing centers across the city.
We do not have time to be pawns in Hidalgo’s game of attempting to control the actions of law abiding, tax paying individuals of our community. Especially since this idiotic order, possibly and unconstitutional one, from the County Judge.”
Pawns. That’s an excellent description of how politicians and judges like Hidalgo view police.
In more ways than just enforcing insane laws about wearing masks.
Hidalgo has defended her order more than once since she first announced it.
First, at a press conference, she said:
“We have to use every tool in the toolbox. I know this takes some getting used to, but these are all small yet powerful actions.”
I support common-sense encouragement of face coverings. But NOT a fine up to $1000 for not wearing one.
While I trust Houston PD won’t enforce this draconian penalty, it also must be changed in the County Executive Order. There is no need to threaten citizens during a crisis. https://t.co/MEvbnPxaiq
— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) April 23, 2020
Then, in response to people telling her how stupid her plan is, she told the Houston Chronicle that the police were “entitled to their opinions.” Not that she’s going to, you know, consult them on their expert opinions. Why would she?
Hidalgo also said she wasn’t looking to impose a “police state.” I’m sure those law-abiding citizens won’t see it that way at all when they’re harassed in the grocery store for not having a piece of cloth over their face.
The judge said:
“It’s something we have to do for the sake of our safety, our lives and our economy.”
Sure, it’s a good idea. But do we really need to find people $1,000 for failing to comply?
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