Democrat Who Supports Stopping Deportations Meets with Group with Anti-Police Views
A vulnerable Democrat senator recently encountered controversy after meeting with representatives of Voices for Progress, a group advocating for halting expansions of immigration detention and deportation. Senator Jon Tester, D-Mont., engaged with the group on May 16, 2024, discussing their controversial views on immigration, law enforcement, and the prison system.
This meeting comes at a tumultuous time as new figures reveal a staggering 7.4 million migrants on ICE’s non-detained docket due to the open southern border under the Biden administration. Montana, Tester’s home state, has witnessed a direct impact with a jaw-dropping 1,900% increase in fentanyl-related overdose deaths from 2017 to 2023. The Drug Enforcement Administration reported the seizure of 7.87 kilograms of fentanyl in Montana during the calendar year 2023.
Despite feeling the repercussions firsthand, Voices for Progress advocates for halting expansions of immigration detention and deportation. Additionally, they push for ending the money bail system, which could potentially lead to criminals roaming free. The group also supports enacting ultra-wealthy taxation and ending discrimination against transgender individuals in health care and during incarceration.
The contentious issue of transgender-identifying inmates being housed based on gender identity recently made headlines after an incident involving a biological male transferred to a women’s prison in California and later charged with raping a female inmate.
When questioned about the meeting, a spokesperson for Senator Tester focused on the need for the ultra-wealthy and massive corporations to pay their fair share in taxes. This resonated with Voices for Progress, aligning with their stance on taxation and advocacy for marginalized groups.
Members of Voices for Progress hold vocal opposition to the GOP and law enforcement, with representatives like Bella D’Alacio expressing disdain toward former President Trump and police militarization. Sandra Fluke, the president of the group, has been vocal about law enforcement’s treatment of people of color, alleging police officers often kill without reason.
Fluke, known for advocating for contraception accessibility for students at Georgetown University in 2012, praised California’s AB2119 in 2018 for expanding gender-related medical practices for transgender-identifying minors in the foster care system. Bob Fertik, another member, has been a vocal critic of pro-life Republicans, labeling them as “fanatical MAGA forced birthers.”
In his fervent criticism of the former president, Fertik has referred to Trump as a “Racist. Rapist. Fascist. Crook” and advocated for his incarceration. These strong opinions highlight the deep divides in American politics and underscore Tester’s willingness to engage with groups holding strong ideological stances.
