The Herald’s April 18 editorial (“
The editorial board called out one protester’s sign [“Detention is Torture”] that I read as an announcement that the intentional suffering caused by detentions and family separations is torture ordered by public officials for the officially stated purpose of deterring legal and unlawful immigration and lawful asylum seekers.
The Association for the Prevention of Torture website analyzes international law and says that torture contains three cumulative elements: 1) “the intentional infliction of severe mental or physical suffering;” 2) “by a public official, who is directly or indirectly involved;” 3) “for a specific purpose.” This definition confirms that some detentions are torture, and presents the real possibly that ICE detentions may constitute torture.
The protesters had the courage to stand up publicly and state their convictions. Instead of receiving a semi-informed lecture by the editorial board’s straw men, the diverse group of protesters should be commended for the public service provided by a sign that alerts the public – and the federal agents that may be faced with unlawful orders – that in some circumstances, detention is torture.
Travis Stills
Durango
