1. United States
2. Ind.
3. Letter

This month, two US citizens were killed by federal agents (ICE or Border Patrol- we will use ICE for both from here). One was obviously murdered in cold blood trying to assist another person who had been assaulted by an ICE agent. Countless citizens, children, legal residents, and asylum cases have been swept up by the racist policies of ICE over the last several months. They are clearly not focusing on the “worst of the worst” but grabbing people who do not look white. They are holding people without due process- a right afforded to citizens and non-citizens. They have gone door to door in violation of the 4th amendment. They have threatened people expressing their 1st amendment rights. They have denied lawyers access to their clients. And this weekend, they murdered someone contentiously and safely carrying in violation of his 2nd amendment rights. Nine people - that we KNOW OF - have been killed by ICE since the first of the year, both through violence and willful and malicious neglect. Reports of torture have also been made public in the last few days which, as we remember from Abu Ghraib, is unacceptable. I am firmly against our local law enforcement’s complete cooperation with ICE. I support assisting in a properly made case, that includes specific targets and judicial warrants, but this has not been the agency’s overwhelming practice. The behavior we have seen from these federal agents are horrifying, and should not be supported by anyone who has sworn to uphold the constitution - both state and federal. I expect that each of you copied to ensure SB 76 does not go forward. I expect everyone involved to vote or veto if given the opportunity. Because Indiana and the United States are not police states. Individuals within our borders, citizen or not, have rights, and I expect each and EVERY elected official of this state to put our constitutional rights first and foremost. A yes vote or signature on this bill will prove that you have no allegiance to the Constitution of this country or state.