1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

Dear Representative, I am writing as a constituent to urge you to oppose and work to reverse the recent expansion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. My concern is not partisan, but constitutional and conservative in the deepest sense of the word. For generations, conservative thought in the United States has emphasized limiting the power of the federal government, guarding against unaccountable agencies, and protecting citizens from coercive state action. These principles arose from hard historical lessons: concentrated power, especially when paired with secrecy and weak oversight, is prone to abuse regardless of who holds it. The expansion of ICE—particularly when it involves opaque operations, aggressive street-level enforcement, or limited transparency—runs directly counter to those values. A large federal law-enforcement body operating with broad discretion and minimal public accountability should concern anyone who believes in small government, states’ rights, and individual liberty. Conservatives have long warned against the normalization of quasi–secret police forces that can detain or harass people without clear identification, warrants, or due process. This is not an argument against enforcing the law. It is an argument for enforcing it in a way that is restrained, accountable, and consistent with constitutional limits. Strong borders and respect for the rule of law do not require empowering a federal agency beyond meaningful oversight, nor do they require eroding civil liberties in the name of security. I urge you to take a stand for limited government by opposing further expansion of ICE’s authority and by supporting measures that rein in its scope, strengthen transparency, and reaffirm due process protections. Doing so would honor the conservative tradition of skepticism toward centralized power and commitment to the freedoms of ordinary Americans. Thank you for your time and for your service