# What Effect Will Trump's Concentration Camps have on his reelection campaign? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 19, 2019, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-trumps-concentration-camps-have-on-his-reelection-campaign/835738 "2019-06-19T12:15:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-trumps-concentration-camps-have-on-his-reelection-campaign/835738/61 "2019-06-19T16:24:17Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > You realize you can be jailed or detained even if you haven’t been found guilty in a court? Migrants aren’t randomly being rounded up. Those who are suspected of being here illegally are in some cases being detained. Just like people in the US who are suspected of other crimes may be put in a jail while awaiting trial. That they’re also rounding up children demonstrates that this is an inaccurate representation of the facts. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-trumps-concentration-camps-have-on-his-reelection-campaign/835738/62 "2019-06-19T16:25:19Z")
> [@LAZombie](#): > > Why isn’t anyone warning these people that concentration camps await them at the US border? If there were actual concentration camps, wouldn’t that dissuade them from coming? That seems like common sense. When the alternative is death, as it is for many of these folks, then that wouldn’t be much of a demotivator. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-trumps-concentration-camps-have-on-his-reelection-campaign/835738/63 "2019-06-19T16:27:45Z")
I’m reminded of the torture supporters who had to tell themselves that waterboarding wasn’t torture so they didn’t have to admit to supporting torture and being sub-par human beings. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-trumps-concentration-camps-have-on-his-reelection-campaign/835738/64 "2019-06-19T16:28:32Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > I’m reminded of the torture supporters who had to tell themselves that waterboarding wasn’t torture so they didn’t have to admit to supporting torture and being sub-par human beings. This is a good analogy, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-trumps-concentration-camps-have-on-his-reelection-campaign/835738/65 "2019-06-19T16:28:51Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > This is essentially a question about messaging. I think it’s possible that the Democrats could tie the phrase “concentration camp” to the GOP with some very skilled and coordinated messaging, but I don’t know if they’re capable of that. I’d also like them to make the phrase “party of sexual assault” part of their regular rhetorical drumbeat, at least from the designated attack dogs (the actual candidates can use “nicer” rhetoric). But this would take some coordinated messaging that they may or may not be capable of. Do you think a majority of Americans would prefer that migrants crossing the border be given a court date and allowed to freely move about the country until that date? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-trumps-concentration-camps-have-on-his-reelection-campaign/835738/66 "2019-06-19T16:29:35Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Do you think a majority of Americans would prefer that migrants crossing the border be given a court date and allowed to freely move about the country? Probably not, but that’s not the only alternative to concentration camps. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-trumps-concentration-camps-have-on-his-reelection-campaign/835738/67 "2019-06-19T16:31:13Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Out of curiosity: what the heck do you figure I’d have to do to clearly establish that, no, I’m not in favor of it and do not in actual fact approve of it? Personally, we’ve been giving money, in the form of prepaid gift cards, to a guy we know who owns a local Mexican restaurant and has ties to people back home. He is in direct contact with people who need help. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-trumps-concentration-camps-have-on-his-reelection-campaign/835738/68 "2019-06-19T16:32:08Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > This is a good analogy, IMO. I’m surprised it hasn’t been made before. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-trumps-concentration-camps-have-on-his-reelection-campaign/835738/69 "2019-06-19T16:32:22Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I think calling them “concentration camps” is intended to have electoral consequences and you damn well know it. I mean, given that the calls of “CONCENTRATION CAMP!” are coming first and foremost from journalists. human rights activists, and historians, rather than, say, the DNC or Nancy Pelosi, I think the primary concern is “stop having concentration camps” rather than “cause electoral consequences”. The electoral consequences come later, as a result of one party saying, “Hmm, you know what, maybe those historians are right and what’s going on _is_ a moral atrocity” and the other party saying “It’s a shame we can’t just shoot them at the border”. This is partially why I’m saying maybe don’t say “it’s not a concentration camp” if you’re not bringing experts in (like, for example, [this professor at NYU](https://twitter.com/jacremes/status/1141011328087351300), or [this german historian at the University of Erfurt](https://twitter.com/HistoryNed/status/1141222910956310528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) who specializes in the holocaust). I hesitate to call it a unified front, but I also have yet to see a single actual expert dispute this take. This is a partisan issue in the same way climate change is a partisan issue: the democrats are saying, “Hmm, maybe we should do something about this,” the republicans are saying “I sense no danger here,” and the experts are screaming, “HOLY SHIT YOU GUYS DO SOMETHING HOLY FUCKING SHIT THIS IS SO FUCKED UP OH GOD WHY AREN’T YOU DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS”. Calling these camps what these are will only be a problem for republicans because republicans _like_ the camps. Also, because I can, here’s someone who, while not in any way a relevant expert, I find [refreshingly straightforward](https://twitter.com/austin_walker/status/1141134022841643008): Been giving it some thought and, you know, if you’re someone who feels very particular about making sure the phrase “concentration camps” isn’t applied ‘inaccurately,’ my advice is is to make sure your country isn’t running anything even somewhat comprable to concentration camps. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-trumps-concentration-camps-have-on-his-reelection-campaign/835738/70 "2019-06-19T16:33:31Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Do you think a majority of Americans would prefer that migrants crossing the border be given a court date and allowed to freely move about the country until that date? I don’t know or care what a majority of my fellow citizens think. That practice has been the norm until the present Administration. If the Trump Administration, as an alternative, wanted to create some safe, humane facilities to house refugees while their cases were being adjudicated, that would be fine with me. But that’s not what’s happening, is it? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-trumps-concentration-camps-have-on-his-reelection-campaign/835738/71 "2019-06-19T16:36:22Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Yes they are (at least some of them, anyway). We might have different understandings of that phrase, but people doing the only things they can to survive but still being punished for it are “in the wrong place at the wrong time”. The only thing these people can do to survive is “request asylum in the United States”? There is absolutely nothing else that they can do? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-trumps-concentration-camps-have-on-his-reelection-campaign/835738/72 "2019-06-19T16:37:08Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Probably not, but that’s not the only alternative to concentration camps. What’s the alternative? Well provisioned Detention Centers? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-trumps-concentration-camps-have-on-his-reelection-campaign/835738/73 "2019-06-19T16:38:28Z")
Not to derail the thread, but what are the opponents of the camps suggesting as the alternative? Putting the migrants in nicer facilities - maybe many rows of furnished houses, instead of a big camp? OK, that sounds good, but I don’t think that’s what they’re suggesting. Edit: \*\*CarnalK \*\*beat me to it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-trumps-concentration-camps-have-on-his-reelection-campaign/835738/74 "2019-06-19T16:42:24Z")
We’ll cross the bridge of whether humane detention is acceptable if we ever get there. Alas, with this (mal)Adminstration, I don’t think we’ll have that “problem” any time soon. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-trumps-concentration-camps-have-on-his-reelection-campaign/835738/75 "2019-06-19T16:42:53Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > What’s the alternative? Well provisioned Detention Centers? Grant them all amnesty and welcome them. That would upset the supporters of these concentration camps, but fuck them. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-trumps-concentration-camps-have-on-his-reelection-campaign/835738/76 "2019-06-19T16:43:03Z")
> [@LAZombie](#): > > Why isn’t anyone warning these people that concentration camps await them at the US border? If there were actual concentration camps, wouldn’t that dissuade them from coming? That seems like common sense. > > I hope the Democrats continue to push this narrative. Most people have common sense and will see it as lies. The migrants are probably making the gamble that they can make it to a sanctuary city which seemingly are providing some incentive to break the law. The real problem are the people in the US who want open borders and are willing to tolerate illegal immigration for long ten demographic and political reasons. To answer the OP, no this won’t hurt Trump anymore than the scandal surrounding Virginia’s governor hurt the governor. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-trumps-concentration-camps-have-on-his-reelection-campaign/835738/77 "2019-06-19T16:46:08Z")
Trump could’ve started with keeping families intact, which the WWII-era Federal Government managed to do when it detained people it (wrongly) considered mortal enemies. He. Did. Not. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-trumps-concentration-camps-have-on-his-reelection-campaign/835738/78 "2019-06-19T16:50:46Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > The only thing these people can do to survive is “request asylum in the United States”? There is absolutely nothing else that they can do? In some cases, that’s probably the only reasonably attainable possibility. Maybe “live in a shack in Mexico and slowly die of malnutrition or disease” is another reasonable possibility, but that kind of sounds like death too. > [@CarnalK](#): > > What’s the alternative? Well provisioned Detention Centers? “Thank you for your application, here is your court date, please return at that time, here is a suggested charity-run housing facility in Mexico along with some lawyers’ phone numbers” is one possiblity (suggested up thread); stay with a volunteer host family until your court date (weekly check-ins, or something like that); just two possibilities off the top of my head (and **manson1972** ’s, I think). I’m sure more creative folks can come up with a myriad of others. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-trumps-concentration-camps-have-on-his-reelection-campaign/835738/79 "2019-06-19T16:59:13Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > What’s the alternative? Well provisioned Detention Centers? We’d be happy to volunteer a spare bedroom for someone or a couple as a place to live while they await their court date. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2019, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-trumps-concentration-camps-have-on-his-reelection-campaign/835738/80 "2019-06-19T17:06:44Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > In some cases, that’s probably the only reasonably attainable possibility. Maybe “live in a shack in Mexico and slowly die of malnutrition or disease” is another reasonable possibility, but that kind of sounds like death too I don’t know. Uganda, for some inexplicable reason, has been brought up as a place that is doing it correctly. I’m sure they can get a Ugandan style standard of living in almost any place besides the US. > [@](#): > > “Thank you for your application, here is your court date, please return at that time, here is a suggested charity-run housing facility in Mexico along with some lawyers’ phone numbers” is one possiblity (suggested up thread); stay with a volunteer host family until your court date (weekly check-ins, or something like that); just two possibilities off the top of my head (and **manson1972** ’s, I think). I’m sure more creative folks can come up with a myriad of others. I honestly don’t know why we aren’t doing this. Why go through all the problems with these camps when we don’t have to? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-trumps-concentration-camps-have-on-his-reelection-campaign/835738.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-trumps-concentration-camps-have-on-his-reelection-campaign/835738.md?page=5)