1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

I am writing as a Pennsylvania constituent to urge immediate congressional action in response to reported Immigration and Customs Enforcement policies authorizing officers to enter private homes without a judge-signed warrant. This is not a gray area. Under the Fourth Amendment, warrantless entry into a home is unconstitutional absent consent or narrowly defined exigent circumstances. Administrative immigration warrants do not meet this standard. Any policy that permits federal agents to enter a residence without judicial authorization violates the Constitution. This practice is dangerous for everyone — including ICE officers themselves. Many Americans live in states with “stand your ground” or strong self-defense laws, and people reasonably expect that an unknown individual forcibly entering their home without a judicial warrant may pose a threat. Unconstitutional home entries dramatically increase the risk of violent misunderstandings, unnecessary escalation, and tragic outcomes that put residents and officers alike in harm’s way. None of this is necessary. ICE does not need to defy the Constitution to do its job. Judicial warrants exist to protect civil liberties, ensure accountability, and provide clarity that prevents exactly this kind of dangerous confusion. Bypassing the judiciary removes a critical safeguard that protects everyone involved. Pennsylvania’s communities — rural and urban — include families who value both constitutional rights and public safety. Policies that normalize unconstitutional home entries undermine trust in law enforcement, erode the rule of law, and create conditions where preventable violence becomes more likely. Public reporting already describes ICE officers entering homes without court-issued warrants under this guidance. Internal agency memos cannot override constitutional law, and allowing executive agencies to redefine when the Constitution applies sets a precedent that threatens all Americans. This is urgent. Congress must act now to stop this unconstitutional practice, demand transparency from DHS and ICE, and reaffirm that judicial warrants are required for home entry. Protecting constitutional rights also protects lives — including the lives of federal officers.