By John Q. Hosedrinker 
On November 26th, ICE agents arrested a Chinese father, Fei, and his 6-year-old son, Yuanxin, at a check-in at 26 Federal Plaza. The father was subsequently sent to an Orange County Jail, while the son’s whereabouts remain unknown. Advocates reported the separation occurred after the family was detained, with the father stating he was not informed of his son’s destination. The incident is part of a growing trend, with data revealing an increase in child arrests by ICE, including other families being apprehended at check-ins.
Read the original article here
ICE just abducted, separated, and disappeared a father and his six-year-old child. The very words feel heavy, a crushing weight of injustice. It’s a reality that’s hard to grapple with, especially when you consider the vulnerability of a child, the terror of separation, and the utter lack of information about where either of them is now. It’s a scenario that chills you to the bone, sparking a cascade of emotions – anger, fear, and a deep-seated sense of unease. The thought of my own child in such a situation, separated, lost, and with no way to know their fate, is simply unbearable.
The fact that this feels disturbingly familiar is another layer of horror. The accounts of such actions echo a dark history, recalling moments in time when governments have systematically targeted and separated families. The sheer audacity of it, to target someone who is following the procedures, is a stark reminder of the potential for abuse of power. It’s easy to fall into cynicism, to expect this kind of behavior from an agency tasked with enforcing immigration laws, but that doesn’t make it any less wrong. The weight of responsibility, the consequences of such actions, are enormous. The emotional scars inflicted on both the father and the child, and potentially the whole family, will likely last a lifetime.
It’s disheartening to think that the media might not be giving this the coverage it deserves. The constant bombardment of new stories, each one seemingly more shocking than the last, creates a sense of fatigue, a feeling that we’re constantly being overwhelmed. How does one keep track of it all? The reality is that there are many people, including the administration, who seem perfectly comfortable with this state of affairs. This disregard for human dignity, the blatant disregard for the basic rights of those seeking a better life, is a sign of a deeper rot, a moral decay that permeates the system. This is a state sponsored kidnapping, a cruel act of disappearing a father and his child.
The language used is important. “Disappeared” is not a euphemism, it’s a stark term. It reflects a very real history of governments using it to refer to people kidnapped and murdered. It underscores the lack of accountability, the potential for unspeakable harm. To use milder words, to dance around the truth, is to minimize the gravity of the situation. It’s to be complicit in the act itself. This is not about being “sensitive.” This is about calling things by their name, about recognizing the evil that’s being perpetrated. The lack of attention to such an atrocity causes an infuriating sense of helplessness.
Some might ask, “Where is the resistance?” It’s a valid question. The second amendment was put in place to protect against tyranny, and here is a form of that right in action. There are instances where individuals and groups are actively resisting these actions, working to protect migrants and challenge ICE’s operations. This isn’t just about protesting, it’s about providing assistance, legal support, and creating safe havens. It’s a complex, multi-faceted response that requires courage, dedication, and a deep sense of compassion.
The long-term effects of these actions are devastating. This practice of separating families, of rendering parents and children unaccounted for, leaves behind a trail of broken lives and shattered communities. It’s important to remember that this isn’t an isolated incident. The Trump administration separated thousands of children from their parents and now the current administration is still in the process of rectifying this egregious abuse. There are thousands of children who are still unaccounted for. These children were pre-verbal, some didn’t even know their names. This is not just about the individuals directly affected. The damage extends to the broader society, eroding trust in institutions and creating a climate of fear and suspicion.
It’s a stark reminder that the fight for justice is never over. It demands vigilance, constant engagement, and a willingness to stand up against injustice, even when it’s uncomfortable. It requires acknowledging the evil that exists in the world, and confronting it head-on. It’s a call to action. It forces a reassessment of what matters most in life and a recommitment to the values of humanity, empathy, and compassion. To fail to do so is to surrender to the darkness, to allow the cycle of abuse to continue.