Needless to say, immigrant detention is not a sin committed solely by the U.S.. From Devious Diva comes this horrible story about the state of detention centers in Greece.

When we arrived, women had not been allowed out of their cell into the yard for a few days. One of the first things we did was arrange for the children to leave the cell, and we accompanied them to visit their fathers in the rooms at the front part of the building. That was a very touching moment for us to see the fathers hugging their small children through the bars of the cell, many of them crying. We also asked the police to allow the children to go out in the yard, where we organized some group activities, so that children could make drawings and play. The psychologist was also able to conduct some individual sessions with patients, who needed special attention.

One father kept asking us about his wife and his newborn child that had been born a few days ago in the local hospital. His wife and the baby were still in the hospital and he was not allowed to visit them there. He was worried that his wife and his newborn baby would be brought back to the detention center. He was also afraid that he and his family would die in there.

It’s heartbreaking how the question of immigration always boils down to the same thing–violence inflicted on loved ones. It’s not “aliens” being forced to hug fathers through prison bars. It’s not “illegals” that have to go days and weeks without knowing if wives made it through childbirth–it’s human beings.

Something tells me the reasons human violations like these are even possible–or greatly applauded–is because the campaign to dehumanize immigrants through words like “illegal aliens” and “illegals” has been far too successful.

What say you, President Obama?