It’s easy to blame Donald Trump for the brutal treatment of immigrants in this country- he notably kicked off his presidential campaign by labeling Mexican immigrants as criminals and rapists. However, Essex County Democrats are actively aiding Trump’s efforts to terrorize and detain undocumented immigrants.

Essex County holds nearly 1,000 ICE detainees, but this was not forced on us by Trump; this was the county’s choice. County Executive Joe DiVincenzo and the Freeholders (all Democrats) maintain a $43 million per year contract with ICE, profiting off working people’s misery and fear. DiVincenzo’s efforts to improve the jail’s abysmal conditions and provide legal aid to detainees can’t hide the fact that he is running a concentration camp.

So, what can we do about it? Pressure the Freeholders to end the contract. Find out who represents your district and call their office. Attend the bimonthly Freeholders meetings. Get organized. North Jersey DSA and the Cosecha Movement (among others) are doing important work to end the contract and need your help.

As citizens, we must ask ourselves where our red lines are. At what point are we obliged to act? There’s a concentration camp in our backyard. Why aren’t we in the streets?