1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to take immediate action to ensure that Immigration and Customs Enforcement respects due process rights by restoring bond hearings for all individuals in their custody. The denial of bond hearings violates fundamental constitutional protections that apply to everyone in the United States, regardless of immigration status. Due process is not a privilege reserved for citizens. It is a constitutional guarantee that extends to all persons within our borders. When ICE detains individuals without providing them the opportunity to request release through bond hearings, it denies them this basic right. These hearings allow immigration judges to determine whether someone poses a flight risk or danger to the community, and whether they can be released while their case proceeds through the immigration court system. The current practice of prolonged detention without bond hearings creates significant hardships for families and communities. Individuals who could safely remain with their families while awaiting their court dates are instead held in detention facilities at considerable taxpayer expense. Many of these individuals have strong ties to their communities, stable employment, and family members who depend on them. Congress has the authority and responsibility to ensure that federal agencies operate within constitutional bounds. ICE's failure to provide bond hearings undermines the integrity of our legal system and erodes public trust in government institutions. This is not about immigration policy preferences. This is about upholding the rule of law and ensuring that everyone receives the fair treatment our Constitution demands. I urge you to exercise your oversight authority to compel ICE to restore bond hearings immediately. Additionally, I ask that you support legislation that codifies the right to bond hearings for all individuals in immigration detention. Our commitment to due process must be absolute, not selective.