It goes without saying that the term ‘mistreatment’ and ICE go hand in hand, especially in today’s current political climate. So, it should be no surprise to anyone that Liberian-born Rodney Taylor from Georgia, a double amputee, was forced into solitary confinement. According to The Guardian, Taylor protested against being put into a flooded cell, as the inch of leaking water covering the floor could potentially damage his two electronic prosthetic legs.
Instead of providing any meaningful help to his problem, such as placing him in a room not filled with water, security simply dragged him off to a “restrictive housing unit.” During his miserable three-day stay in solitary confinement, no one gave him water or any means to charge his legs. For those wondering why ICE would lock up and treat such an already unfortunate individual with such neglect, he reportedly was convicted of burglary when he was a teen. He’s now 46 years old and was working as a barber before ICE arrested him in January.
Besides Being an Immigrant, ICE Arrested Taylor for Something He Was Pardoned for in 2010
And before anyone wants to accuse Taylor of coming to the USA for ‘medical benefits’ or something of the sort, he actually was brought to the States by his mom when he was a small child. In other words, besides his burglary, which was pardoned in 2010, there’s no proper reason why he’s being treated like this besides political reasons. As one Reddit user puts it, “It’s crazy how being treated with any kind of decency is considered a privilege to some.” Another person chimed in, saying, “I’d be happier to meet this guy in a dark alley than I would to meet your average MAGA Republican.”
Besides almost messing up his literal primary way of walking about, it’s also sickening that ICE gave him no water while he was in the restrictive housing unit. Taylor’s words indeed speak truth: “They don’t see you as an individual, but as someone being deported.” And while we could totally blame the presidential administration for this, let’s not forget the individual accountability of those working at the Georgia prison. As one commenter puts it, “Evil. No other word for it. Straight up f**king evil people.”
