On Tuesday afternoon, demonstrators gathered at U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell’s office in Ypsilanti as part of the #CloseTheCamps nationwide protest.
According to the event website, the demonstration, which opposed child detention centers at the Mexican-American border, demanded the Trump administration close the detention camps and halt deportation funding.
“We need to turn our outrage into action,” the website read. “We demand that the Trump administration close the camps immediately, free the children, reunite them with their families and stop this war on immigrants.”
Demonstrators demanded the Congresswoman use her power to fight against conditions at the border.
Dingell responded to the demonstration Tuesday afternoon. She said she was visiting veterans at the Ann Arbor Department of Veterans Affairs and was not in her office at the time of the protest.
“I care deeply about these children and families and the situation at the border remains untenable,” Dingell wrote in a press release. “From what I have seen, heard reported, and spoke with colleagues about who had been at the border yesterday — the treatment of detainees is unacceptable.”
Dingell also expressed concern regarding the reports of racist and sexist comments by Customs and Border Protection agents in a Facebook group. She said Congress must work together to establish comprehensive immigration reform.
“Across Michigan and the country, Americans are raising their voices and raising awareness on these inhumane conditions at the border,” Dingell wrote. “It is important and why I will be joining other colleagues in traveling to the border in the next month.”
#CloseTheCamps protests took place in 184 cities across the country Tuesday, including a demonstration at U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence’s office in Southfield, according to the event website. American Friends Service Committee, Families Belong Together, Move On and United We Stand were among the organizations to sponsor the demonstration.