American Scream | Audrey Bernier, 2019

Materials: Cotton
Techniques: Raw-edge appliqué and machine quilted by Nancy Williams
Finished Size: 40' by 60'

The racial profiling of those of Latin descent has grown with significant intensity. SB1070, a legislative bill that originated out of Arizona, gave law enforcement the power to stop anyone whose appearance indicated they might be from a different country. They were then allowed to ask for proof of citizenship  and any individual over 18 who could not provide this was charged with a misdemeanor. This systemic targeting had serious repercussions leading individuals who had committed no other crime to be deported and those here legally in jeopardy of losing their immigration status over a failure to carry a document. Eventually the Supreme Court ruled that the racial profiling aspect of this bill was unconstitutional but upheld the right for law enforcement to demand proof of citizenship and detain an individual if it was not provided. 

Like all systems of oppression the detainment of immigrants would not be hindered and has grown into border patrol stops that allow for the stops of any desired person within 100 miles of any border and ask for proof of citizenship. The ACLU estimates 2/3 of all people live within this region and are subject to this allowed abuse of our 4th amendment constitutional right against search and seizures.

In recent years America has begun to specifically target and detain immigrants specifically of Latinx origin through ICE raids. With the aid of many local law enforcement agencies The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Team, ICE, have begun to attack know work sites, school drop offs and designated safe havens dragging suspected immigrants away to camps that are over crowded and lack basic care and necessities. Families are impacted when children are separated from their families either in detention or by being greeted by an empty home upon arriving from school. Young children are kept caged in these camps until they are given immigration hearings which they must face without guardianship or legal aid. 
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One of the largest private prison companies CCA had acquired the contracts to maintain and continue to build immigration camps. This is the corporation that has occupancy clauses for its prisons in which the government is required to pay substantial fines if there are not enough people locked up. Each individual who is detained is a dollar sign for legislation and for this corporation. The prolonged detention of immigrants like all acts of oppression has created a cycle of wealth and influence for those involved in its creation and implementation.