Austin Kocher
ON THE RECORD · 4 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“And yet at the same time, in that same [Folkston] facility, you have someone who died and possibly was able to kill themselves.”
Austin Kocher · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24
Kocher pointed out the contradiction that a detainee died at the Folkston facility while ICE simultaneously sought to force-feed hunger strikers there.
“Even in the past, there has not been such an overt dehumanization and overt view that migrants’ lives are expendable,”
Austin Kocher · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24
Kocher, who studies the immigration enforcement system, commented on the dehumanization of migrants under the Trump administration amid rising ICE custody deaths.
“On the one hand, they’re trying to force-feed people [to keep them alive],”
Austin Kocher · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24
Kocher highlighted the contradiction between ICE force-feeding hunger strikers to keep them alive while a detainee died at the same facility.
“I worry that that tone [from the Trump administration] has a tendency towards neglect and viewing migrants as disposable.”
Austin Kocher · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24
Kocher expressed concern that the Trump administration's tone encourages neglect and views migrants as disposable.