1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I am writing not only as your constituent, but as someone who believes deeply that constitutional limits are what separate democracy from mere authority. The debate over immigration enforcement is often loud and polarized. But beneath the noise lies a simpler question: will Congress ensure that federal power remains constrained by law? Recent ICE operations have generated widespread concern — from aggressive enforcement tactics and disputed home entries to expanding detention infrastructure and use-of-force incidents that have alarmed communities nationwide. Even Americans who favor robust enforcement are increasingly uneasy about whether constitutional protections are being treated as firm boundaries or flexible guidelines. As Congress considers new funding for the Department of Homeland Security, this is your moment to act. Appropriations are not endorsements of every practice an agency adopts. They are opportunities to define standards. Any additional DHS funding should include explicit restrictions on ICE’s conduct — requiring judicial warrants for residential entries, mandating visible identification and body cameras, strengthening independent oversight, and conditioning detention expansion on demonstrable compliance with due process protections. Without guardrails, increased funding risks accelerating the very practices that have eroded public trust. With guardrails, Congress can reinforce both lawful enforcement and civil liberty. The question is not whether immigration laws should be enforced. The question is whether they will be enforced in a way that preserves the constitutional framework that binds us together. I urge you to use your legislative authority — especially your power over appropriations — to ensure that enforcement never outruns accountability.