1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

The executive branch is crossing a constitutional line, and it is doing so openly. Recent DHS and ICE actions, paired with rhetoric about Americans needing to “show their papers” and agents labeling people “domestic terrorists,” reflect a level of executive overreach that cannot go unanswered. This is not lawful enforcement. It is an assertion of power the Constitution does not grant. Federal law provides a clear definition of domestic terrorism. It requires criminal acts dangerous to human life and intent to intimidate civilians or coerce government policy. Filming law enforcement, observing raids, protesting, questioning agents, or refusing to produce identification are not violent crimes. They are protected activities. Calling people “domestic terrorists” for engaging in them is legally indefensible and constitutionally dangerous. Even more alarming are reports of ICE agents referencing databases where names and personal information are allegedly being collected on individuals who criticize, record, or oppose enforcement actions. If the government is compiling lists tied to speech or protest, that implicates the First Amendment. If those lists result in heightened scrutiny, detention, or retaliation without notice or a chance to challenge inclusion, that is a due process failure. If race, language, or appearance drive who ends up on those lists, equal protection is being violated. This is not a gray area. There is no “papers please” authority in the United States. Citizens are not required to carry proof of citizenship. Law enforcement cannot demand identification absent reasonable suspicion of a crime. Administrative convenience does not override the Fourth Amendment, and executive branch policy does not supersede the Constitution. Congress does not get to watch this happen in silence. Oversight is not optional. When executive agencies stretch legal definitions, misuse national security language, or chill constitutional rights, Congress has a duty to intervene. We want a full investigation. That means public hearings, subpoenas if necessary, and clear answers. What criteria are being used to label people as domestic terrorists? What databases exist, what information is being collected, who has access, and what due process protections apply? How many citizens have been stopped, questioned, or flagged without legal justification? Americans do not prove their rights to the government. The government answers to the Constitution. It is time for Congress to enforce that truth.