By Carlos Wadkins

From keeping thousands of children in cages at the border to kicking 25,000 mixed status families out of Section 8 housing, every detail of American immigration policy has been diligently refined over time to inflict the most pain and suffering possible onto immigrants and their families. It truly covers all bases. Zero tolerance policies and concentration camps at the border offer a violent reception to so-called “illegal” immigrants, while visa restrictions and third-country asylum agreements make it harder and harder to enter the country legally.

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Rest in Peace, Nebane Abienwi.

by Ella-Rose Kessler

The beginning of October was marked by the tragic death of Nebane Abienwai, a Cameroonian immigrant awaiting asylum at Otay Mesa Detention Center, a private camp in San Diego run by CoreCivic, a private contractor based in Nashville. Abienwai, who died from a brain hemorrhage, is one of eight people who have died at the hands of the federal government so far in 2019.

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By Mirjam Washuus

In September, housed residents of Clinton Park sparked disorder in the community by attempting to rid their street of drug dealers and homeless people living in encampments. They decided to do so by crowdfunding the installation of boulders onto the sidewalk.

Clearly, someone among the residents have read Albert Camus’ philosophical essay, “The Myth of Sisyphus.” Here, Camus contemplates the purpose of living in a universe devoid of order and meaning,

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By TJ Johnston

As Street Sheet goes to press, a ballot initiative that could put unsheltered people with mental challenges under further scrutiny from law enforcement and court system has been introduced.

On October 10, a proposal called the California Compassionate Intervention Act was submitted to the state attorney general’s office. Under the plan, police would be further empowered to arrest homeless people under existing state codes — including those for illegal lodging and drug-related offenses — and divert them to a special behavioral court in their county.

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