1. United States
2. Ala.
3. Letter

I am an Alabama constituent and a United States Air Force veteran writing to urge you to vote NO on funding for the Department of Homeland Security in the upcoming vote unless and until concrete, enforceable constitutional reforms and accountability measures are implemented. I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. That oath does not expire when military service ends. It binds us to uphold constitutional limits on government power, especially when that power is exercised domestically against American citizens. Recent DHS and ICE operations in American cities have resulted in the deaths of U.S. citizens under deeply troubling circumstances. In a recent case, an American citizen was killed by ICE agents while in possession of a legally owned and lawfully registered firearm, raising serious concerns about the excessive use of force against individuals who were not engaged in criminal activity. These incidents implicate core constitutional protections, including: The Fourth Amendment, which guards against unreasonable searches and seizures and excessive force; The Fifth Amendment, which guarantees due process of law; and The Second Amendment, which protects the lawful possession of firearms and does not nullify a citizen’s right to life or due process. Public safety cannot exist without constitutional restraint. Security that disregards civil liberties, escalates encounters unnecessarily, or results in the killing of law-abiding citizens is not safety — it is government failure. As a veteran, it is profoundly disturbing to witness domestic federal operations that resemble the very conditions our military is sworn to prevent. Americans should not fear their own government operating in their own communities. Withholding DHS funding until meaningful reforms, transparent oversight, clear rules of engagement, and enforceable accountability measures are in place is not abandonment of responsibility — it is the proper exercise of congressional oversight. I urge you to stand with the Constitution, with veterans who honored their oath, and with Americans who deserve safety without sacrificing liberty. Please vote NO on DHS funding until these conditions are met.