Torn Apart/Separados Volume 1 and Volume 2
Reviewed by: Kelsey Milian
Review started: February 28, 2023
Review last updated: February 28, 2023
Site Links
- Volume 1 (https://xpmethod.columbia.edu/torn-apart/volume/1)
- Volume 2 (https://xpmethod.columbia.edu/torn-apart/volume/2/)
Data and Sources
- Geographical data and images similar to google maps
- Images and spending percentages of congressional leaders that support ICE centers.
- Data-driven charts and population collection
- Google map images of specific geographical locations- providing an aerial view of border sites and ICE facilities
- Borderlands Archives Cartography
- Envision the project as a scholarly journal
Processes
- Volume I: cross-checked data through non-governmental sources as well: news reports about immigrant detention, business databases, tax documents for non-profit organizations, job advertisements, Google Maps entries, Facebook Places, and more. Data has been verified by 2 sources, 1 directly from the government
- Volume II: Linking awards to specific congressional leaders supported and funded by ICE detention supporters and institutions themselves.
Presentation
- Interactive geographical map of the United States indicating all active/non-active ICE facilities where asylum seekers are located.
- Color-coded bubbles varying in size indicate active/no-active since 2014. Pastel Pink + light blue.
- Immediate pop up with twitter handles: #separados #tornapart
- Green box in upper right corner enabling translations for Spanish readers.
Digital Tools Used
- Currently unknown
- Is associated with XPMethod + Computational analysis tools at Columbia University.
Languages
- English
- Spanish
Review
Torn Apart/Separados is a two-volume geographical and political data-driven information source that seeks to highlight the gravity of ICE Detention centers + the funding that goes into the creation and longevity of these institutions. By acquiring publicly available data, this project aims to show the “zero tolerance” policies on immigration policy back in 2018. Torn apart also draws attention to the landscapes, families, and communities riven by the massive web of immigrant detention in the United States. Data sources are varied—the creators worked from a FOIA-ed list of ICE facilities, publicly available lists of CBP sites, data sets of ICE detainee hearings, USASpending.gov, state childcare licensing databases, and government grants awards lists. .
VOLUME 1
The banners at the top—Visualizations, Textures, Reflections, Allies, Bibliography, and credits— are interesting, but a little unclear.
“Visualizations” refers to the geographical map that indicates the varying bubbles of ICE centers. Multiple banners appear to indicate specific aerial views of certain sites and dangerous locations where asylum seekers have been in grave danger or captured. Another banner indicates the overall # of detained persons as of 2017 highlighting that the site could use some updating.
“Textures” indicates the purpose and motivations for which this research is being conducted. A group of scholars, researchers, librarians, and allies (those who want to shut down ICE centers) wanted to draw attention to the landscapes, families, and communities affected by the massive web of immigration detention centers in the U.S.
The “reflections” banner seemed important and promising, however, when I clicked on it, stories from immigrant families and those within the centers were not featured. I am glad the scholars involved could provide their context and motivations, but it would be interesting to hear the stories from actual immigrant families.
The “Allies” banner reveals the specific locations of asylum help centers and refuge spaces. As a side comment, I am not surprised, but I am saddened by the very few centers of allyship and resources in comparison to the detention centers.
VOLUME 2
Volume II puts a face to the flow of financial support ICE Centers are given within the United States. Menu options, such as “districts,” lead to visualizations of the total number of ICE dollars flowing into congressional districts, as well as information about each district's largest recipient of ICE money and its elected representative. Pictures of who these people are provides more context as well.
The “rain” menu option leads to a visualization of the growth of ICE contract values and support over time. The “gain” menu option exposes the most involved participants in ICE’s operations, from prison services, businesses owned by people of color, and well-known companies to universities.
Though not as obvious based on the names, perhaps changing the titles to be a little more clear could help improve searchability. The “freezer” banner documents the range of goods, services, and contractors that uphold immigration enforcement while the line's banner shows the haunting increases in deportation as a result.
Overall, both Volumes are incredibly important. I prefer Volume II, because it provides visuals of actual government leaders who support these centers. As citizens, people can engage with these tools to see who they want to vote for in the upcoming elections and hopefully vote for leaders who do not want to support the creation of ICE detention centers. This project is haunting but should be public knowledge. If more people knew, perhaps we could put an end to the inhumane conditions asylum seekers endure. I believe the project does expose the structural racism and anti-immigration that it set out to reveal. Indicating the locations of ICE centers and the corresponding legislators who have been bought by companies and institutions against immigration points directly to structures of racism and prejudice. It is not explicit, but there is a transparency that we do not normally get to find connections of. For future voters, having a name to the face can help provide more information on legislation and political agendas.