1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

I’m writing to ask you to defend the right of every American to protest peacefully and to protect citizens from unlawful or excessive force by government agencies. More than two hundred people have died in ICE custody since 2003, including at least twenty-two this year—the highest number in roughly two decades. Thousands of children are still waiting to be reunited with parents separated by federal policy. In several U.S. cities, including Portland, Los Angeles, and Chicago, peaceful protesters have been injured when officers fired tear gas, flash-bangs, and “less-lethal” rounds into nonviolent crowds. These are not isolated events—they are warnings of what happens when state power operates without accountability. It is your duty to uphold the Constitution by ensuring that law enforcement never becomes a tool of fear. I urge you to: – Make a clear public statement affirming that every American has the right to protest without violence or retaliation. – Take immediate legislative action to improve oversight and regulation of ICE. – Prevent the use of military or police force against citizens in unlawful or unconstitutional ways. – Demand transparency wherever government actions have caused harm. No one in this country should be afraid to speak their mind or stand peacefully in public. Protecting that freedom is essential to the health of our democracy.