1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

There is no reason for ICE agents to be armed. If they are shot at - and there’s no record of this ever actually happening, they could readily summon state or local police to protect their safety. ICE was designed to be mainly an investigative agency, not a militarized arm of the presidency. ICE agents are not adequately trained to use deadly force. In addition, ICE agents prowling streets in unmarked cars, wearing masks, clad in body armor and carrying long guns, are a clear provocation to violence and we see the effects. It appears this administration WANTS to provoke violent confrontations so they can justify even more oppression. You should not vote for the DHS spending bill unless it stipulates that ICE be disarmed. The bill must restrict ICE and Border Patrol’s ability to conduct dragnet arrest operations and target people based on their race, language or accent. And the bill must clarify that ICE agents are liable under civil and criminal law if they harm civilians. The President is telling agents they have “absolute immunity” from criminal prosecution or civil lawsuits if they kill or maim or otherwise hurt civilians. There’s no such absolute immunity under the law and you should know that. I expect Congress to make it crystal clear in the DHS spending bill now under consideration that ICE agents do not enjoy absolute legal immunity. Are you planning to do this? I want an answer – ICE appears to be in MO already and the blood of innocent people can be on your hands if you don’t act. And that blood could be your friend or loved one!