1. United States
2. Colo.
3. Letter

I’m writing to urge you to take immediate action to stop ICE from tearing apart our communities. Recently, two teachers in the Denver area, both of whom had full legal permission to live and work in the United States, were taken by ICE. These educators were deeply rooted in their schools and neighborhoods, supporting students and families every day. Their sudden detention has been disruptive, harmful, and cruel. Students have been left traumatized, parents & staff are afraid, and a sense of fear now hangs over a community that should feel safe. These teachers were not a threat, they were contributors, mentors, and role models. They had kids who were students at the schools, leaving students terrified that a friend could disappear.  This kind of enforcement does nothing to make us safer. Instead, it undermines trust, destroys lives, and weakens the very fabric of our communities. It goes against our values as a country.  I’m asking you to speak out publicly and take action to stop ICE from targeting educators, community members, and to not allow racial profiling. ICE has detained US citizens and leaves them with terror and fear for no reason. Please use your voice, your platform, and your vote to rein in these abuses and protect our neighbors. Please fight for the laws we created from our regret of not helping those in need before. Title 8 of the U.S. code 1158 states may arrive and apply for asylum.  We need compassion and accountability — not cruelty. Denver’s teachers, students, and families deserve better. The state of Illinois has taken a harder stand against ICE, protecting the daycare worker from being taken out of state and was able to be released. Our teacher and her family were not as fortunate. Our community is scared, and this will keep escalating to other communities if we do not demand law and order from DHS, which they have done in the past, and now are using our tax dollars to harm innocent civilians.