Stacey Abrams Blasts Trump’s “Prison Camps” for Children

Abrams Condemns Trump’s Executive Order on Voting, Cites “Child Prison Camps”

New York Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of Democratic state attorneys general are suing to block President Trump’s executive order on mail-in voting. They argue the order illegally changes how Americans can cast their ballots. James stated that free and fair elections are the foundation of democracy, and no president can rewrite the rules alone. This lawsuit follows a separate challenge from Democratic Party leadership, also arguing the president lacks authority for such sweeping changes. These actions come after the president repeatedly made false claims about mail-in voting, blaming it for his 2020 election loss.

No Evidence of Widespread Mail-In Voting Fraud

Despite years of claims, there is no credible evidence showing widespread fraud in mail-in voting. Research from the Brookings Institution found that in the last four general elections, only four out of every 10 million mail-in ballots were fraudulent. This is about 15 times rarer than dying from a lightning strike. Nevertheless, the president is attempting to use federal power to alter voting procedures just months before voters go to the polls.

Stacey Abrams Criticizes Executive Order’s Legality and Intent

Stacey Abrams, founder of the Fair Fight Voting Rights Group, joined the discussion, calling the executive order “patently illegal.” She described it as part of a voter suppression playbook used by Republicans for years. Abrams pointed to a 2018 case where flawed “exact match” systems in Georgia prevented over 50,000 voters from participating. She also cited federal court rulings against illegal voter purges in 2016. Abrams explained that the databases used for these new federal efforts are inaccurate, citing failure rates of 34% in Missouri and over 14% in Texas. “The data does not match,” she stated, “and when it is flawed, real people who should have a voice in our democracy are excluded.”

Voter Suppression Tactics Aim to Dismantle Election Systems

Abrams expressed concern about a chilling effect on the current election process. She noted that in 2020, elections were more accessible, allowing more voters to be heard. The current actions aim to systematically dismantle these capacities. She highlighted a new rule making it illegal in most southern states to accept private funding for election protection and security systems, which many counties relied on due to underfunding. “They are saying do not run your elections properly, and you cannot go and find the money to make it work,” Abrams said. Furthermore, the executive order threatens election workers with criminal prosecution for mistakes, creating a chilling effect on voters and public trust in elections.

“Children are in prison camps”: Abrams on Dilley Detention Facility

Abrams also spoke about her recent visit to Dilley, Texas, a facility holding many undocumented children and families. She described seeing children sleeping on metal bunks with moldy and worm-infested food. She recounted the story of a young girl who developed COVID, RSV, and pneumonia simultaneously, unable to get proper medical care. Abrams read a plea from a 13-year-old boy named Gustavo Santiago, detained at the facility: “To this day, I don’t know what we did wrong to be detained. I feel like I’ll never get out of here. I just ask that you don’t forget about us.”

Authoritarians Seek to Erase Humanity and Agency

“What it says is that we’ve lost our way, and we are in danger of losing our humanity,” Abrams stated. “The children are in prison. I stood outside the gates, and you could see the trailers. You can see that these are children and their families that are being held in prison camps.” She questioned the need for protection from a baby with RSV and pneumonia, emphasizing that authoritarians want people to forget their humanity, power, and agency. Abrams stressed the importance of sharing truth to counter propaganda and scapegoating of the vulnerable.

“Read Them Home” Campaign Aims to Flood Zone with Truth

Abrams is promoting the “Read Them Home” campaign, a partnership with various organizations like the National Domestic Workers Alliance, SEIU, AFT, and NEA. The campaign asks citizens to “flood the zone with the truth” by filming themselves reading stories and posting them on social media with the hashtag #ReadThemHome. “We’re excited children, we are torturing babies in the United States in 2026,” Abrams declared, highlighting the urgency. She believes Congress and the President can end these practices but urges citizens not to wait. The campaign’s second step is to share what people know, aiming to expose the mistreatment of children in facilities like Dilley and other locations across the country, including upcoming warehouse-like facilities intended for families and children.

Source: ‘These are children in prison camps’: Abrams calls to end family detention by ICE (YouTube)