1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

Prohibit ICE from Detaining or Using Force Against US Citizens and Protesters I am writing to urge you to introduce or support legislation that prohibits Immigration and Customs Enforcement from detaining, harming, or using any force against people on American soil, particularly US citizens, protesters, and observers exercising their constitutional rights. A recent CNN investigation revealed that ICE has detained hundreds of US citizens under 18 USC 111. These cases are falling apart in court, exposing a pattern of unlawful detention that violates fundamental civil liberties. When federal immigration officers exceed their jurisdiction and detain American citizens, they undermine the very foundation of our legal system and constitutional protections. The Fourth Amendment protects all people in the United States from unreasonable searches and seizures. The First Amendment guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and protest. Yet ICE operations are increasingly encroaching on these rights, detaining citizens without proper cause and creating a climate of fear that chills legitimate political expression and observation of government activities. This issue extends beyond immigration enforcement. When any federal agency can detain citizens without accountability, it threatens everyone's liberty. The fact that these detentions are collapsing in court demonstrates they lack legal merit from the start, wasting judicial resources while causing immeasurable harm to those wrongfully detained. I am asking you to take immediate action to establish clear statutory prohibitions on ICE detaining or using force against US citizens, individuals engaged in lawful protest or observation, and anyone not subject to legitimate immigration enforcement actions. This legislation should include robust accountability mechanisms, mandatory reporting of all detentions, and civil remedies for those whose rights are violated. Our immigration enforcement system must operate within constitutional bounds. No agency should have unchecked power to detain citizens or suppress lawful assembly. I look forward to your response on what steps you will take to protect these fundamental rights.