Florida Senator Rick Scott (R) is calling out Bank of America after the bank announced that they would no longer be lending money to detention centers and private prisons.
In a statement, Bank of America informed that “the private sector is attempting to respond to public policy and government needs and demands in the absence of long standing and widely recognized reforms needed in criminal justice and immigration policies.”
In addition, Bank of America commented that “lacking further legal and policy clarity, and in recognition of the concerns of our employees and stakeholders in the communities we serve, it is our intention to exit these relationships.”
Senator Rick Scott took to twitter to voice that “a few years ago, Bank of America got a $20 billion bailout. Now their CEO says they disagree with federal immigration policy and want to cut ties.”
A few yrs ago, @BankofAmerica got a $20 billion bailout. Now their CEO says they disagree with federal immigration policy and want to cut ties.
If you don’t support the policies of the federal government, you shouldn’t benefit from doing business with the federal government. https://t.co/Ff6skTRQa6
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) July 22, 2019
Moreover, Senator Scott noted that “if you don’t support the policies of the federal government, you shouldn’t benefit from doing business with the federal government.”
The announcement comes at a time when tension is running high between lawmakers concerning illegal immigration and detention centers.
President Trump has maintained his hard-line stance on immigration, and Democrats have fought back regarding the manner.
Families Belong Together, a coalition of organizations that are devoted to fighting the Trump administration’s immigration policies applauded Bank of America’s decision, which marks it as one of the last big Wall Street bankers to sever ties.
In a statement, Families Belong Together called Bank of America’s decision “an enormous victory for the millions of people and more than 100 organizations who have raised their voices, signed petitions, and protested at bank branches across the country to demand an end to financing the morally bankrupt private prison industry.”
