1. United States
2. N.J.
3. Letter

On the morning of April 15 in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Michelle Mendoza, a U.S. citizen, was driving her daughter to school when she received a call from her husband, Alejandro Rios, a Mexican-national who has lived and worked in NJ for over a decade. Rios was distressed because he believed immigration agents were following his work vehicle. Mendoza rushed to the scene, where she found her husband and two of his colleagues already handcuffed by federal agents. As she approached, Mendoza was restrained, forced to the ground, and handcuffed before being taken into custody. The encounter, captured on bystander video, shows Mendoza being subdued while her two young children remained in a nearby car. Some of the agents involved were wearing masks, despite a recent New Jersey law prohibiting federal officers from concealing their identities during such operations.   Mendoza was taken to the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark and held for about eight hours on suspicion of assault before being released without charges. Her husband and the two other men remain in ICE custody. Mendoza’s arrest drew widespread attention in Asbury Park, sparking protests and calls from state officials for an investigation.   Beyond highlighting the incredible cruelty of federal immigration enforcement and dangers it poses to immigrants and U.S. citizens alike, this incident also reinforces the concerns that WE THE PEOPLE have had for the past 18 months or so. How is Congress keeping Americans safe- ESPECIALLY PoC? When will you do something to end the egregious behavior of ICE agents? When will enough be enough? These “agents” have been radicalized by hate. You have a duty to end this!