1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

The parallels between the Trump administration's actions and those of historical authoritarian regimes are well- documented facts, not mere speculation. Since January 2025, ICE has been arresting 3, 000 people daily and deporting over 390, 390,000. At least 32 individuals have died in custody, making this the deadliest year for immigration detention in decades. DHS has shot 11 people during immigration enforcement operations, including American citizens standing up for constitutional rights. The administration also fired 100 immigration judges amid a surge in cases, removing due process for asylum seekers. They invoke the Alien Enemies Act, the same law that enabled Japanese internment, to deport hundreds without hearings. This exemplifies what authoritarian regimes do: dismantle legal protections for vulnerable populations. This pattern extends to citizens as well. Trump issued executive orders attempting to end birthright citizenship, in violation of the 14 th Amendment. He also requires documentary proof of citizenship to vote, knowing that millions of Black and low- income Americans cannot immediately access these documents. The administration removed gender identity from federal records, banned transgender service members, and weaponized Title IX to withdraw funding from schools that protect trans students. These actions are not mere policy disagreements; they constitute systematic removals of legal recognition, echoing how fascist regimes targeted marginalized groups before consolidating total control. Historians confirm this blueprint. Project 2025 mirrors Mussolini's "Laws for the Defense of the State," from purging civil servants to eliminating judicial independence. Trump told Sean Hannity he would be a "dictator on day one," and he is fulfilling that promise: politicizing the Justice Department, defying court orders, threatening local officials who refuse ICE cooperation, and investigating law firms that challenge his actions. When Senator Mark Kelly had to remind troops that they can refuse illegal orders, it revealed how far we have drifted from constitutional norms. This administration has forsaken democratic governance. Congress must act immediately. Pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act to safeguard ballot access. Investigate ICE custody deaths and oversight offices that have been defunded. Restore judicial independence. Stop the use of wartime powers against civilians. Statements are not enough. History shows what's coming next, and we have limited time to change course before those guardrails are lost forever.