1. United States
2. Kan.
3. Letter

I'm asking you to vote against overriding Governor Kelly's veto of Senate Substitute for House Bill 2372 when the override vote comes up on April 9. This bill threatens civil liberties and due process while creating dangerous legal gray areas. The bill removes the 48-hour detention limit that was in earlier versions, meaning people could be held for weeks or months without seeing a judge or being picked up by ICE. ICE detainer requests don't require judicial approval like warrants do. According to ICE's own data, 47% of people currently detained have no known criminal charges. This bill expands that system in Kansas without basic safeguards. The provision criminalizing being within 25 feet of first responders, including ICE agents, restricts our ability to document and hold law enforcement accountable. Violations carry up to six months in jail and $1,000 in fines. That's a direct attack on transparency and oversight. The 287(g) program provisions allow sheriffs to sign federal agreements without county commissioner approval, bypassing local democratic control. This bill prioritizes federal immigration enforcement over protecting the constitutional rights of Kansas residents. Vote no on the override.