1. United States
2. Wisc.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep sorrow and anger over the continued operation of ICE detention facilities across the United States. What is happening inside these centers — the separation of families, the inhumane conditions, and the indefinite confinement of people seeking refuge — is a moral failing that stains our nation’s conscience. We have seen this kind of cruelty before in history. While I do not make the comparison lightly, there are undeniable echoes of the dehumanization and indifference that characterized some of humanity’s darkest moments — including the Holocaust. Then, as now, people were labeled “other,” stripped of their dignity, and treated as less than human. Too many turned away, insisting it was simply “policy” or “security.” How can we, as a country that swore “never again,” allow such suffering to happen on our own soil — under our own flag? Children are growing up behind bars. Families are living in fear. People are being detained not because they pose a danger, but because our system values punishment over compassion. This is not who we should be. The United States has the resources and the moral responsibility to build an immigration system rooted in humanity and fairness — one that focuses on community support, case management, and due process, rather than cages and cruelty. I urge you to call for: An immediate investigation into conditions in all ICE facilities. A shift away from mass detention toward humane, community-based alternatives. Accountability for private contractors profiting from human suffering. History will remember who stood by silently — and who chose to act. Please, use your position to ensure that the United States does not repeat the mistakes of the past. The time for moral courage is now.