1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

Do Not Weaken Basic Protections for Americans in DHS Negotiations   I understand that two of the key areas currently under negotiation in Congress involve whether federal immigration agents may operate while masked and whether agents must obtain judicial warrants before entering private property. I am writing to urge you not to weaken or abandon either of these protections.   First, allowing federal agents to conduct enforcement actions while masked and unidentifiable is fundamentally incompatible with democratic accountability. When government agents exercise the power to detain individuals and enter communities, the public must be able to identify who is acting in their name. Anonymity erodes trust, increases fear, and removes meaningful accountability when mistakes or abuses occur. Law enforcement authority must always be visible and traceable to those who exercise it.   Second, requiring judicial warrants before entering private property is not an obstacle to enforcement; it is a basic constitutional safeguard. The Fourth Amendment exists precisely to prevent government overreach into private homes and spaces without judicial oversight. Removing or weakening this standard would signal that expedience matters more than constitutional rights. That is a dangerous precedent regardless of party or political moment.   These are not partisan talking points. They are foundational principles: government power must be accountable, and constitutional protections must not be negotiated away. Voters expect leaders to defend these principles, not trade them away under political pressure.   Please stand firm and ensure that any final agreement preserves both transparency in enforcement and respect for constitutional protections.