Ms. Rachel Declares ‘I Am Political’ as She Advocates to Shut Down Texas ICE Facility Detaining Children: ‘Believing Every Child Is Equal Is Political’
Rachel Accurso, widely recognized as Ms. Rachel, a beloved figure in children’s entertainment, shared with NBC News that she is actively campaigning to close the Dilley Immigration Processing Center located in South Texas, where ICE detains children and their families. Her awareness of Dilley arose when federal agents apprehended the father of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos in Minneapolis, subsequently transferring both to the facility in Dilley.
Reports have surfaced indicating that children at Dilley have voiced concerns over inadequate educational opportunities, constant lighting, and substandard food conditions. During the Trump administration’s stringent immigration policies, over 2,300 children have been detained alongside their parents, with a significant number held at Dilley, according to data from court-appointed monitors. Many of these families have faced prolonged detention lasting weeks or even months.
Connecting with Detained Children
Recently, Accurso held a video call with 9-year-old Deiver Henao Jimenez, who, along with his parents, has been held at Dilley since early March. This marked her second video interaction with a child in detention; her first was with a 5-year-old named Gael.
During the call, Accurso, wearing her iconic Ms. Rachel outfit, expressed her empathy, telling Jimenez, “A lot of people want to try to help.” In response, Jimenez shared his desire to leave and participate in an upcoming spelling bee.
Reflecting on the experience, Accurso remarked, “It was unbelievably surreal to see this sweet little face and feel like I was on a call with somebody who’s in jail. It broke me, and it was something I never thought I’d encounter in life… We’re trying to get a child out of jail to do a spelling bee. I just never thought those words would go together.”
Accurso is now collaborating with legal experts and immigration advocates to advocate for the closure of Dilley, aiming to ensure that children and their parents can return to their communities where they rightfully belong.
Backlash and Advocacy
As Ms. Rachel, Accurso has built a substantial following online, initially gaining popularity on YouTube before transitioning to Netflix. However, her recent foray into political discourse has sparked debate regarding the involvement of children’s entertainers in political matters. For example, her advocacy for children in Gaza has led some to accuse her of prioritizing Palestinian youth over Israeli interests. Accurso has consistently maintained her stance that all children, regardless of background, deserve equal treatment.
In January, Accurso faced accusations of antisemitism after her Instagram account accidentally liked a comment that read, “Free America from the Jews.” She addressed the mistake, assuring her audience: “I’m a human who makes mistakes.”
Following her outspoken support for children in Gaza, Accurso revealed that she has received threats against her family. Initially, she hesitated to engage in the fight against ICE in the U.S., fearing it would further provoke criticism. However, the information about Dilley spurred her to take action.
Accurso firmly stated, “I am political.” She elaborated, “It’s political to believe that children are worthy of love and care, and that every child is equal, and that our care shouldn’t stop at what we look like, our family, at our religion, at a border.”
Entertainment Industry Updates
In related entertainment news, the drama series ‘Getting Under Your Skin’ has been approved for a second season. Iceland’s Act4, co-led by ‘Severance’ star Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, is partnering with Kari Skogland, director of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ to adapt the film ‘Dead Weight.’ Additionally, the duo from ‘Morning Joe’ will remain with MS NOW until 2029, and Kuku’s ‘Indian Institute of Zombies’ marks a significant debut in the horror-comedy genre.
Interestingly, U.S. household spending on streaming video services has stabilized at $69 per month, with 68% of users now opting for ad-supported tiers. Lastly, Kevin Costner and Jake Gyllenhaal are set to film ‘Honeymoon With Harry’ in Queensland.