Lolita lay on her bed in her bedroom. She turned on the news with her remote control to watch the live press conference of Yesmin Trixie with Renee Clinton. Renee sat in a red soft flax chair while Yesmin positioned herself across from her.
Yesmin gripped her pen and notebook. "Renee, do you plan on accepting more Cascadian immigrants in Catwerp?"
Renee nearly choked on her coffee, quickly setting her mug on the countertop table. "No. If we accepted more immigrants, it would create a housing crisis in Catwerp. Buying a house in Catwerp here costs a fortune, and property taxes are sky-high."
Yesmin's long black eyelashes didn't flutter. "That's interesting, because just this morning your social media account called Cascadians 'savages.' Care to comment on that?"
Renee shook her head. "My team is looking into that account breach. What I can tell you is that Catwerp has always been committed to a responsible immigration policy that protects our citizens."
"Really?" Yesmin raised an eyebrow. "Are you not accepting immigrants from Cascadia because you're racist?"
Renee stomped her foot on the floor. "Racist? How dare you call me that? I've lots of friends from different countries around the world!"
"I've welcomed ten thousand immigrants from Cascadia. I would love to take in more people, but unfortunately, my country is too small to accept any more. Renee, Catwerp is four times larger than my country, Jayland. Why don't you take in more immigrants?"
Renee shook her head. "I can't. It would hurt the economy."
"Why is the customs enforcement team forcing Cascadian immigrants out of their homes?"
"Custom agents can remove anyone from a home who isn't paying their property taxes."
"But the majority of Cascadians immigrants are too poor to afford valid documents."
"I can't loosen the rules governing my country."
Yesmin put her notebook and pen on the table. She pulled out a remote control for the smart board from her jacket pocket.
"You need to watch this." Her voice turned ice-cold.
Yesmin pointed the remote at the smart board behind them. Renee turned her head to watch the screen. Yesmin pressed the red button on the remote, turning on the video. The video showed the customs enforcement teams breaking into a house with a battering ram during the night. The door broke open, and the team stormed inside. An agent dragged a woman by her dreadlocks, and she screamed, "Please! I can't go back to Cascadia!"
The agent ignored her cries for help and threw her on the grass. The agent was on top of her and handcuffed her. An agent held the girl's arms; she was kicking and screaming. She bit the agent's arm, and he yelped. He let go of her, and she ran down the street. The agent rushed after her and tackled her to the pavement. The agent weighed two hundred pounds more than the petite girl. She screamed, her face was bloody and bruised. The agent handcuffed her and carried her to the police cruiser. Two men sat on the grass crying while handcuffed, as the agents interrogated them. The video ended.
Yesmin's tone was harsh. "This is disgusting, that this is happening in your country! An eight-year-old girl had to be sent to the hospital because the customs agents had broken her jaw!"
Renee shrugged. "I don't work for the Department of Homeland Security. I can't stop this."
"You're telling me the most powerful person in Catwerp can't protect an eight-year-old girl from having her jaw broken by your own agents?"
"It takes years for the House of Commons to review any bill. The liberal party must first write the bill, and every member of parliament must agree on it. As Ruler, I can't change the laws in my country without the approval of the liberal party." Renee's voice became cold. "Don't you know that Jayland airport security is insufficient for searching people's belongings for undeclared firearms?"
Yesmin bit her tongue. "Yes, I'm aware that our security team is underfunded. The problem is that travellers are bringing in high-tech bags that are passing through the clearance check at the airport security."
Renee chuckled. Now the tables have turned in Renee's favour. "Thousands of firearms were smuggled from Jayland into Cascadia. Can you explain why nobody was arrested afterwards?"
The question hung in the air, but Lolita had already lost interest. She yawned and reached for the remote, clicking off the television with a dismissive gesture. Finishing the last of her wine in one long sip, she set the glass down and let her eyes drift closed, already half-asleep.