1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

The biggest risk at this moment is something sociologists called 'symbolic compliance'. That is when an institution that is violating civil rights gives just enough symbolic victories that accountability efforts lose steam before there has been any meaningful change. Do not for a moment think that the Trump Administration has finally awakened and responded positively to our outrage. They have not. They have simply made a political calculation designed specifically to make citizens believe that they have had a change of heart with regard to I.C.E. There has been no change of heart with this administration. Bovino being allowed to "retire quietly" is not enough. The Senate alone investigating is not enough. Donald Trump cheering them on and then backing off is not enough. We don't want to wait until this "cools down" just so other cities can be attacked. It remains imperative that you vote NO on ANY additional funding for ICE – AND put in place strong accountability measures that include: - Requiring that the Department of Homeland Security cooperate fully with state and local authorities conducting investigations into the actions of immigration agents, including investigations into the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti; - Prohibiting federal immigration enforcement agents from concealing their faces and identities during law enforcement operations outside of very limited specific circumstances; - Ensuring accountability for federal agents’ lawless actions by providing civil liability for violations of constitutional and civil rights and ending qualified immunity; - Prohibiting civil immigration enforcement actions at sensitive locations that are crucial to our communal safety and wellbeing such as schools and day care centers, places of worship, health care providers, and polling places; - Ending the unlawful practice and policy of arresting people without a warrant, in accordance with the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the INA’s warrantless arrest statute, 8 USC § 1357(a)(2), and ceasing the practice and policy of entering homes without a judicial warrant; - Defunding family jails and detention centers like Dilley in Texas, where 5 year old Liam and other children are held in unsafe conditions.