1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

Law enforcement officers, including immigration agents, must operate strictly within legal boundaries and respect the constitutional rights of all individuals. The documented case of immigration agents wrongfully detaining and brutalizing a teenage US citizen is wholly unacceptable and a dereliction of their sworn duty. Offering incentives or bonuses for such illegal activities enabling violent abuse of power cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. Law enforcement personnel who violate civil liberties through unreasonable force or deprivation of due process should face severe disciplinary consequences, including prosecution where applicable, not rewards. Reforms with stringent accountability measures are critical to restoring public trust and ensuring all citizens and residents receive the equal protection and humane treatment to which they are entitled by law. Additionally, all people, regardless of immigration status, are entitled to fair treatment and legal protections against unreasonable search, seizure, and deprivation of liberty without just cause. Such blatant disregard for fundamental civil rights and the rule of law from those sworn to uphold them is an egregious abuse of power that erodes public trust. Immigration enforcement must operate within legal bounds and treat all individuals with the dignity they deserve as human beings.