“Unbuild Walls”: Detention Watch’s Silky Shah on Debunking Immigration Myths & Embracing Abolition

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Amid an intensifying crackdown on asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border, we speak to the author of the new book Unbuild Walls: Why Immigrant Justice Needs Abolition about U.S. immigration policy under the Biden administration. Author Silky Shah is the executive director of Detention Watch Network and a longtime immigration rights advocate whose new book aims to “debunk the idea that immigration is a public safety issue,” in the face of narratives, from both the Republican and Democrat political establishments, of criminality and deterrence. Despite Biden’s campaign promises to reform the immigration system, his administration has “ceded more and more ground to the Republicans and moved the whole conversation to the right,” Shah says. “Legalization isn’t even on the table.” Shah discusses how the immigrant rights’ movement uses the language of abolition to build connections with other social movements fighting oppression, from mass incarceration to police brutality. “These systems aren’t separate. … We have to call for abolition of the whole system and understand those things together.”
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Пікірлер: 189

  • @benjaminfranklin8412
    @benjaminfranklin841215 күн бұрын

    I kept waiting for her to identify a myth.

  • @timtebone

    @timtebone

    12 күн бұрын

    its the title of the book, its not the title of the segment lmao

  • @larularae2106
    @larularae210610 күн бұрын

    It's alarming to see how fucking awful prisons treat people, there's never any intent to change their prisoners for the better, it's all misery and punishment.

  • @user-ef8jx4rg1b
    @user-ef8jx4rg1b15 күн бұрын

    What percentage of the population is non native speakers?

  • @gilgamesh3698
    @gilgamesh369816 күн бұрын

    Unbuild walls? What about the wall between Gaza and Egypt? That wall is covered in barbed wire.

  • @caseyalanjones

    @caseyalanjones

    16 күн бұрын

    True, but given that Democracy Now focuses on Gaza for at least half of every episode, I think they are allowed to also discuss other problems in the world.

  • @bobsanborn2395

    @bobsanborn2395

    16 күн бұрын

    Some walls are built of thoughts and beliefs, and are surrounded by barbed intentions. It is up to each individual to 'un-build' those walls if we want to be open, happy, and neighborly with others.

  • @finnopalewski4979

    @finnopalewski4979

    10 күн бұрын

    So is the wall on the Mexican border, from Palestine to Mexico all the walls have got to go!

  • @howardmctroy3303
    @howardmctroy330316 күн бұрын

    Reality has a bias towards walls and borders.

  • @diplomat249
    @diplomat24911 күн бұрын

    This woman has base in her voice.

  • @amandah764

    @amandah764

    10 күн бұрын

    I fucking knew I would see transphobia in the comments, I was kidding myself to think I wouldn't

  • @larularae2106

    @larularae2106

    10 күн бұрын

    My dude why are you letting trans people live rent free in your head? move on weirdo lmfao

  • @paulsaragosa371
    @paulsaragosa37111 күн бұрын

    I was incarcerated at nine years old in the McClaren hall Elmont e California orphanage 3yaers yah

  • @albertrinaldi1380
    @albertrinaldi138016 күн бұрын

    Dahulu orang orang kulit putih adalah imigrasi ke benua Amerika dan kemudian membantai suku asli Amerika orang orang Indian, di Australia orang aborigin di Selandia Baru orang maori dan sekarang di Palestina.siapanya yang sebenarnya imigran?

  • @lauralafauve5520
    @lauralafauve552016 күн бұрын

    Why deprive KZread viewers of more information on this topic? I've messaged many people who, like myself, for technical and monetary reasons cannot access the entire internet easily. This is a very important topic.

  • @paulsaragosa371
    @paulsaragosa37111 күн бұрын

    Los Angeles County and wayside prison s levels 3 and 4

  • @benjaminfranklin8412
    @benjaminfranklin841215 күн бұрын

    Minute five -- seriously unimpressive deportation numbers.

  • @paulsaragosa371
    @paulsaragosa37111 күн бұрын

    94 and 95 and 96 locks upside

  • @paulsaragosa371
    @paulsaragosa37111 күн бұрын

    President Jimmy Carter

  • @markjasper6110
    @markjasper611016 күн бұрын

    Please vote Biden out!

  • @caseyalanjones

    @caseyalanjones

    16 күн бұрын

    Okay.

  • @CandiceMMartinez

    @CandiceMMartinez

    16 күн бұрын

    Will do

  • @cev12
    @cev1215 күн бұрын

    No. What a surprise that an immigrant wants to help her own instead of US citizens. Keep them out; prioritize and help US citizens.

  • @revolution2847

    @revolution2847

    15 күн бұрын

    No, your savior and leader against immigration, Nikki Haley and Ramaswamy, are also immigrants. Choose the fantasy you want to sell yourself. Nothing will change. Immigrants will come, just accept reality and enjoy now

  • @Doc5thMech

    @Doc5thMech

    12 күн бұрын

    @cov12. Put American Indians in charge of enforced deportation.

  • @paulsaragosa371
    @paulsaragosa37111 күн бұрын

    3yaers is the McClaren hall nine teen seven ty 71

  • @Perk10blvd
    @Perk10blvd7 күн бұрын

    Send them home wth

  • @therighteousrighthand
    @therighteousrighthand16 күн бұрын

    Immigration is causing huge issues with demography and security of the nation.

  • @chickenbutt420

    @chickenbutt420

    16 күн бұрын

    proof?

  • @oceantransistor

    @oceantransistor

    16 күн бұрын

    No it's not.

  • @therighteousrighthand

    @therighteousrighthand

    16 күн бұрын

    @@oceantransistor There are ckear evidences. Immigration of qualified and well educated is one thing. But the mass illegal uncontrolled immigration is the issue.

  • @rohanxdavis

    @rohanxdavis

    16 күн бұрын

    @@therighteousrighthand Thats funny because in that statement you're assuming the dummies who's families have been in the US are inherently better human beings by default. What you really want is to stop black and brown immigration. Refugees from Ukraine and war criminals from Israel are fine though right

  • @israeliteprince9074

    @israeliteprince9074

    16 күн бұрын

    ​@@oceantransistorIt's not good for inflation though.

  • @SleepyOx2023
    @SleepyOx202316 күн бұрын

    Free the humans from people who want to control them like animals. Fight unjust control at all times.

  • @promark5317
    @promark531716 күн бұрын

    What does abolition mean? Abolition of what? She never answered the question.

  • @oceantransistor

    @oceantransistor

    16 күн бұрын

    Abolition means no more prisons.

  • @YouTubdotCub

    @YouTubdotCub

    16 күн бұрын

    Abolition of police, abolition of prisons, abolition of the prison-industrial complex in full basically.

  • @Ruzo-yc2wb

    @Ruzo-yc2wb

    16 күн бұрын

    Criminal illegal aliens. Not 'migrants'. Victims of police brutality are getting compensated in millions. So why not apply the same approach to crimes committed by illegals? Let's keep the DIMS busy this year. Victims of crimes committed by Illegal criminal Aliens living in the U.S should file a $50 billion class-action lawsuit against agencies at all government levels for failure to enforce existing laws. Proactively seek legal advice and engage in wholesale activism on the political front

  • @gilgamesh3698

    @gilgamesh3698

    16 күн бұрын

    @@YouTubdotCubabolition of common sense as well

  • @YouTubdotCub

    @YouTubdotCub

    16 күн бұрын

    @@gilgamesh3698 funding police and prisons is abolition of common sense

  • @aaronettsexton4459
    @aaronettsexton445912 күн бұрын

    I think maybe America should try the uk plan ...

  • @SunSailandSand
    @SunSailandSand10 күн бұрын

    That's a MAN Baby!!!! YEAHHHH!!!! ~ Austin Powers

  • @paulsaragosa371
    @paulsaragosa37111 күн бұрын

    Jimmy Carter

  • @KarlFreeman-fe1nd

    @KarlFreeman-fe1nd

    10 күн бұрын

    Ronald Reagan gave the Amnesty

  • @davidap257
    @davidap25715 күн бұрын

    Silky Shah is an ideologue,it all comes down to Racism !

  • @gloomgirl777
    @gloomgirl77714 күн бұрын

    It's disingenuous to say anti-immigrant. More accurately is being anti illegal immigration

  • @dalekrenegade2596

    @dalekrenegade2596

    14 күн бұрын

    It would be if you guys were smart enough to actually distinguish the two.

  • @gloomgirl777

    @gloomgirl777

    9 күн бұрын

    @@dalekrenegade2596 we all can. There have been big budget cuts in my city because they're giving illegal immigrants intensive job training for 6 months, free housing for 6 months, a free computer, and a free cell phone. At a minimum. While we have citizens homeless and living in the streets.

  • @tambam7340
    @tambam734013 күн бұрын

    So relieved to read the comments here… who the hell funds this channel?

  • @paulantonio740
    @paulantonio74016 күн бұрын

    It's amusing how Democracy Now! and the Wall Street Journal have the same position on migration -- tear down the walls and let 'em in.

  • @promark5317

    @promark5317

    15 күн бұрын

    democracy Now is terrible on border policy and Russia. They're pretty good on everything else.

  • @revolution2847

    @revolution2847

    15 күн бұрын

    Maybe it has something to do with, I don't know, Constitution? Which stipulates Birthright Citizenship, just let it be man, stop raging on internet

  • @mitchyoung93

    @mitchyoung93

    9 күн бұрын

    ​@@revolution2847Actually thats a live issue. 'Subject to the laws of...'

  • @beefjerky5708
    @beefjerky570816 күн бұрын

    Australian detention record .. ...This next graph shows the extreme length of time some people have been held in detention. It shows that over 120 people have been in detention for five years or more, with several having spent more than ten years in detention. As at 31 March 2023, the longest time a person still in held detention had been held was 5,766 days - nearly 16 years.

  • @BadgerBreath-rz1np

    @BadgerBreath-rz1np

    16 күн бұрын

    There are borders..there are laws...These illegal migrants travel through many countries to get to America, Europe and Australia . None of them countries stop them if they say they are transitting to other nations. They should be deported the same day.

  • @BadgerBreath-rz1np

    @BadgerBreath-rz1np

    16 күн бұрын

    Notice its always some generational immigrant and often a female that pushes this stuff. You don't see westerners doing the same in the countries they are from.

  • @benjaminfranklin8412
    @benjaminfranklin841215 күн бұрын

    I am tired of the word scapegoat with this debate as if Americans cannot have any legitimate reason to be opposed to illegal immigration.

  • @dalekrenegade2596

    @dalekrenegade2596

    14 күн бұрын

    The shoe fits deal with it.

  • @benjaminfranklin8412

    @benjaminfranklin8412

    13 күн бұрын

    @@dalekrenegade2596 But she didn't make an effective argument they are a scapegoat. Do you have an argument ?

  • @dalekrenegade2596

    @dalekrenegade2596

    13 күн бұрын

    @@benjaminfranklin8412 When you blame them for everything and assume they're illegal then yeah.

  • @benjaminfranklin8412

    @benjaminfranklin8412

    12 күн бұрын

    @dalekrenegade2596 Well, we are talking about people who immigrated illegally, so I don't know why you are mentioning assumptions. Who is blaming them for everything? If they are blamed for earthquakes, that would be absurd. We would agree.

  • @dalekrenegade2596

    @dalekrenegade2596

    12 күн бұрын

    @@benjaminfranklin8412 You blame them for crime and economic whoes regardless of context, the perfect scapegoat for you guys to constantly whine about even they nothing you.

  • @acesfullmike5371
    @acesfullmike537116 күн бұрын

    Xenophobia is rampant in the US and supported and enflamed by politicians on the right and left. with no opposition. Yet antisemitism that is none existent by comparison, is loudly complained about by all politicians. Politicians have incorrectly labeled any criticism of Israel as antisemitism, and are proceeding to criminalize any such criticism of Israel. At the same time, politicians encourage and promote Islamophobia in an effort to justify a genocide of the Palestinian people and lead the US into another false "weapons of mass destruction war." We have seen this movie many, many times before.

  • @ToddGavin-dp6bk

    @ToddGavin-dp6bk

    16 күн бұрын

    SPOT ON.NAILED IT.

  • @dennismorgan2408

    @dennismorgan2408

    15 күн бұрын

    The country is overrun with economic migrants. I don't think that is xenophobic.

  • @Sim-gv3mt

    @Sim-gv3mt

    13 күн бұрын

    your tax dollars pay for the migrants' food stamps, utilities, and rent.

  • @isuzucap-ye9sz

    @isuzucap-ye9sz

    11 күн бұрын

    @@dennismorgan2408 Like your European ancestors

  • @isuzucap-ye9sz

    @isuzucap-ye9sz

    11 күн бұрын

    @@dennismorgan2408 These are people with indigenous heritage

  • @benjaminfranklin8412
    @benjaminfranklin841215 күн бұрын

    The core of the issue is that people are immigrating illegally and Americans want illegal immigration to stop. That is the core.

  • @sandal_thong8631

    @sandal_thong8631

    15 күн бұрын

    No. It's that White Supremacists are worried about being in the minority a decade or so from now. We could have an open border like the European Union, creating a North American Union and that would be good for the United States and those we ally with. If it were really about illegal vs. legal, we'd allow more legal immigrants, and not just white Nordic Europeans, who don't really want to come here, because the United States is mean to people and racist.

  • @dalekrenegade2596

    @dalekrenegade2596

    14 күн бұрын

    Stop treating every brown person as a vile criminal then.

  • @romanski5811

    @romanski5811

    12 күн бұрын

    The solution is to decriminalize border crossings, and while you're at it, decriminalize jaywalking, too. Make them into minor misdemeanors because they're not big deals.

  • @sandal_thong8631

    @sandal_thong8631

    12 күн бұрын

    @@romanski5811 You shouldn't have bothered to respond; it looks like they just report any contrary position as offensive. Typical Republican Cancel Culture.

  • @deawinter

    @deawinter

    11 күн бұрын

    You decide what is illegal. Get that through your head. We as a society decide what the rules are and we decide the punishments. When the system we have set up produce these outcomes it is futile to yell at the people passing through to produce better outcomes. We The People created the immigration system and We The People are obligated to fix it when it starts torturing children.

  • @switzjon8405
    @switzjon840516 күн бұрын

    How will everyone get along? We all have different cultures and beliefs and ways of living. Abolishing everything and all things will lead to a world more chaos than people think. We don't think the same or live the same. It's a world that can never be reality unless forced

  • @hlmuench4212

    @hlmuench4212

    16 күн бұрын

    What do you see happening now? Maybe you’re worried YOU wont be as comfortable. But your sense of security is little more than a string by which you’re activated.

  • @switzjon8405

    @switzjon8405

    16 күн бұрын

    There is no security and that's the issue. The powers that ought not to be make sure of that. What I see now is the destabilization of many societies for more top-down control of the masses. You don't have a border you don't have a country

  • @kwameak108

    @kwameak108

    16 күн бұрын

    Why the heck is your country forcing it values on other countries? Why did these savages raid Africa, enslaving its people, colonizing and looting its resources? Are you a toddler? Did you think through before writing this comment?

  • @Laurentipia5

    @Laurentipia5

    16 күн бұрын

    I feel the cruel immigration laws are currently causing more chaos than abolition will. Abolition would lead to a shift in focus from treating immigrants like criminals, to seeing them as people and helping them.

  • @kwameak108

    @kwameak108

    16 күн бұрын

    tries? Why did these savages raid Africa, enslaving its people, colonizing and looting its resources? Are you a toddler? Did you think through before writing this comment?

  • @juliahenriques210
    @juliahenriques21016 күн бұрын

    A world without borders. That's what the V2 is for. Pixy was right all along.

  • @geraldhirsch8421

    @geraldhirsch8421

    16 күн бұрын

    Please elaborate.

  • @DavidDemiseOfficial
    @DavidDemiseOfficial12 күн бұрын

    Oh great, an invert telling us how things should be.

  • @deborahd.7281
    @deborahd.728116 күн бұрын

    According to Emily Post it’s appropriate to say, “former President....” Please refer to former President Doanld Trump as former President Trump. You could also say former and future President Donald J. Trump.

  • @mrnativesun6880
    @mrnativesun688016 күн бұрын

    Native Pride Movement , Decolonize, Xicano Nation, Land Back. 🌎 Names of Facebook pages who address this issue.

  • @vectorfox4782

    @vectorfox4782

    14 күн бұрын

    😂

  • @nilaja-itsmylife
    @nilaja-itsmylife16 күн бұрын

    🗣️ speak on it!!!

  • @johnpruett2970
    @johnpruett297016 күн бұрын

    Great work, Silky! Congrats on the book!

  • @Rainforestdelight
    @Rainforestdelight16 күн бұрын

    Everyone on this channel is so naive on every issue.

  • @user-cn3du8zi3z

    @user-cn3du8zi3z

    15 күн бұрын

    It’s not a very democratic channel

  • @skidooshlayman12
    @skidooshlayman1213 күн бұрын

    take down the wall between men and women's bathrooms. make it one big communal bathroom.

  • @RUS0909
    @RUS090916 күн бұрын

    Democracy, human rights, equality, and so forth. Keep bragging and keep condemning the world.

  • @shirlynmakar4129
    @shirlynmakar412916 күн бұрын

    Why does this show never discuss solutions?

  • @Seekthetruth3000

    @Seekthetruth3000

    16 күн бұрын

    DN is an Orwellian propaganda arm of the Democratic Party. That is why.

  • @rennatawilson9622

    @rennatawilson9622

    16 күн бұрын

    Like mass deportation?

  • @reubenhandel210
    @reubenhandel21013 күн бұрын

    Amy is delusional

  • @revolution2847
    @revolution284715 күн бұрын

    Only smart hard-working STEM students are welcome, we want them to lead our politics, science, and industry

  • @switzjon8405
    @switzjon840516 күн бұрын

    12:17 What is a criminal? Who determines who is one?

  • @casualobserver77

    @casualobserver77

    16 күн бұрын

    A society/legislation passes laws. Someone disobeys the law and they are CRIMINALS. It's kinda elementary. But I know it's hard for you to understand.

  • @oceantransistor

    @oceantransistor

    16 күн бұрын

    @@casualobserver77 Assange is considered a criminal for exposing criminals. Same happened to Snowden. If the real criminals are making the laws the laws aren't just.

  • @ugooko7569

    @ugooko7569

    16 күн бұрын

    ​@oceantransistor go to Somalia and see how long you last with such attitude smh

  • @beefjerky5708

    @beefjerky5708

    16 күн бұрын

    @casualobserver77 Add David McBride to your list. This whistleblower received 5 years jail time yesterday for leaking secret documents exposing Australian War crimes in Afghanistan. The alleged perpetrators haven't gone to trial.

  • @caseyalanjones

    @caseyalanjones

    16 күн бұрын

    ​@@casualobserver77 Well, you know, that's just like uh, your opinion, man.

  • @bobsanborn2395
    @bobsanborn239516 күн бұрын

    "Good fences make good neighbors", wrote Robert Frost. This is NOT A GOOD FENCE. We oughta learn how to get along with our neighbors. Setting up dicktators so the peops have to flee for their lives and livelihoods is NOT A GOOD WAY to make friends with our neighbors. Some walls are built of thoughts and beliefs, and are surrounded by barbed intentions. It is up to each individual to 'un-build' those walls if we want to be open, happy, and neighborly with others, including our own selfs.

  • @barbiejohnson3047
    @barbiejohnson304714 күн бұрын

    Leaders. Leaders. This is the 21st century. Humanity has matured now beyond the brute beast mentality. What does “leader” mean? And what do leaders lead? Harmony or chaos? How many leaders are on this planet? How many humans are on this planet? Who leads who? And for what reason? Wake up brothers and sisters to the light of your own leader! The light of your own Spirit. Wake up brothers and sisters to the power of your Love. Your compassion. Pass it on… Namaste

  • @jimihayes150
    @jimihayes15014 күн бұрын

    Lies

  • @kdub3892
    @kdub389211 күн бұрын

    Horseshizt

  • @deborahd.7281
    @deborahd.728116 күн бұрын

    Do you have any audio or video of children being aborted?

  • @reginaldlivingston731

    @reginaldlivingston731

    16 күн бұрын

    I have some in the trunk of my car. How much are you willing to pay?

  • @KarlFreeman-fe1nd

    @KarlFreeman-fe1nd

    10 күн бұрын

    Depends on the race and age of the child.

  • @kingsrefuge
    @kingsrefuge16 күн бұрын

    LMFAO

  • @heathercole6750
    @heathercole675016 күн бұрын

    Excellent topic. Thank you for bringing this guest on. It’s good to know there are knowledgeable people that are behind the scenes working on solutions. I will reach out to some of your resources and guest once I have the ability to help. Thank you for bringing all of these topics to attention

  • @reginaldlivingston731

    @reginaldlivingston731

    16 күн бұрын

    And thank YOU for opening up your home to hundreds of migrants each year. We really appreciate it.

  • @richardgillette5759

    @richardgillette5759

    14 күн бұрын

    Come on in fellas. There’s plenty for all

  • @causeimapunkrocker01
    @causeimapunkrocker0116 күн бұрын

    And these are religious people? If those were my children, how disappointed I would be. I’m sure their God is proud.

  • @kellywright5282
    @kellywright528216 күн бұрын

    Bias Bullshit

  • @paulsaragosa371
    @paulsaragosa37111 күн бұрын

    94 and 95 and 96 locks upside