AOC Under Fire For Giving Mild Criticisms On Joe Biden‘s Detention Camps For Migrant Kids
Self-proclaimed Democratic socialist, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, was met with backlash online for appearing to give President Joe Biden a pass after the new president opened an immigrant detention camp facility for migrant kids.
Critics of the far-left lawmaker mocked and criticized her for only giving mild comments against the same facility which she blew to a spectacle and referred to as “concentration camps” during the time of former president Donald Trump.
The Washington Post reported this week that Biden’s “first migrant facility for children” just opened — the report itself changing the language of how the mainstream media used to refer to them during the previous administration.
The new Democratic administration had to reopen the same facility used for over a month by the Trump administration to house migrant children amid a surge at the border. This time, Biden is also using the facility to house kids amid existing coronavirus restrictions — and with an increasing number of minors apprehended at the border.
The Democratic firebrand AOC made a spectacle of the issue during the Trump administration and even showed photographs in 2018 showing her crying outside a supposedly migrant children detention center in Tornillo, Texas.
Ocasio-Cortez even called the said facilities “concentration camps” as she repeatedly called out the former administration for putting children in “cages.”
AOC changes tone on detention facilities
But AOC appeared to have softened her stance on the issue – now that a Democrat is president.
“This is not okay, never has been okay, never will be okay – no matter the administration or party,” the Democratic superstar said as the news broke.
But she started changing her tone later on saying: “Our immigration system is built on a carceral framework. It’s no accident that challenging how we approach both these issues are considered ‘controversial’ stances. They require reimagining our relationship to each other and challenging common assumptions we take for granted.”
The progressive lawmaker then tried to defend the Biden administration — saying they’ve only been in office for a few months.
“It’s only 2 mos into this admin & our fraught, unjust immigration system will not transform in that time,”AOC said, in what her critics say is a reversal of her already “mild criticism” of Biden’s detention facilities use compared to her “over-the-top” claims during the time of President Trump.
She concluded by saying that “DHS shouldn’t exist, agencies should be reorganized, [and] ICE gotta go.”
This is not okay, never has been okay, never will be okay – no matter the administration or party. https://t.co/AEV7s7QQnB
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 23, 2021
Our immigration system is built on a carceral framework. It’s no accident that challenging how we approach both these issues are considered “controversial” stances.
They require reimagining our relationship to each other and challenging common assumptions we take for granted.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 23, 2021
It’s only 2 mos into this admin & our fraught, unjust immigration system will not transform in that time.
That’s why bold reimagination is so impt.
DHS shouldn’t exist, agencies should be reorganized, ICE gotta go, ban for-profit detention, create climate refugee status & more.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 23, 2021
AOC gets backlash online
“Quite the difference,” a user wrote on Twitter posting AOC’s earlier comment of how Trump’s “concentration camps” were she alleged that immigrants are being “brutalized with dehumanizing conditions.”
Quite the difference pic.twitter.com/3pi3Fwu16C
— David In Maryland (@DavidInMaryland) February 23, 2021
“A slap on the wrist from AOC to Joe Biden,” said Steve Guest, special advisor for Communications for Sen. Ted Cruz. “Plus, AOC calls for DHS to be eliminated.”
A slap on the wrist from AOC to Joe Biden.
Plus, AOC calls for DHS to be eliminated. https://t.co/TWne9FpiaM pic.twitter.com/3yjtotDrVJ
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) February 24, 2021
“Little bit more subdued response than flying to the border to scream through a chainlink fence,” another user wrote.
Little bit more subdued response than flying to the border to scream through a chainlink fence. https://t.co/eYmTNFKuF3
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) February 23, 2021
“Very calm tweet about literal concentration camps.”
I’m sure she can find a parking lot to cry in front of just around the block.
— Project (@project141764) February 24, 2021
“I’m sure she can find a parking lot to cry in front of just around the block,” another comment said.
“She typed in a strongly worded email,” writer Chad Felix Greene commented on Twitter.
Rita Panahi, an Australian political commentator also slammed AOC: “Not okay is a far cry from her ‘concentration camp’ claims.”
Not okay is a far cry from her “concentration camp” claims.
— Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) February 24, 2021
Give us the photo op! https://t.co/RD2x5uK8m8 pic.twitter.com/pVYJq0Ax4W
— John Gage (@johnrobertgage) February 23, 2021
“Give us the photo op!” another user mocked AOC.
Her ‘concentration camp’ comments under Trump
Here are AOC’s previous tweets during the time of Trump where she would often issue strong-worded claims and accusations to the former administration — and called migrant detention facilities as “concentration camps” repeatedly.
This video was from 1 year ago this week – before my primary & the Fox News cycle.
I flew to the concentration camp where the Trump admin was keeping children they stole from their parents.
Back then, I was voicing my conscience. I still am. #AbolishICEpic.twitter.com/QLyc9MiMsV
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 18, 2019
These are concentration camps.
According to concentration camp experts, people begin to die due to overcrowding, neglect, and shortage of resources.
We saw all three of those signs on our trip yesterday. Another person died yesterday.
And those are the deaths we know about. https://t.co/MhujNAYohJ
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 2, 2019
Ah yes, because history knows that people who run concentration camp systems almost always acknowledge to the public what they’re doing. https://t.co/HOX7HGNIrm
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 18, 2019