1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to take immediate action to stop the racial profiling and unconstitutional detention practices by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and US Customs and Border Protection agents that are terrorizing US citizens and legal permanent residents in our communities. As of January 8, 2026, ICE held 68,990 people in detention, an all-time high. This surge has been accompanied by widespread reports of racial profiling targeting Black and brown individuals across Minnesota, New York, Washington state, California, and Illinois. Federal agents are patrolling Home Depot stores, mosques, daycares, and construction sites in predominantly minority neighborhoods. The human cost is devastating. Mohamed, a lawful permanent resident from Somalia living in San Diego, was approached by four ICE agents wearing balaclavas while exercising in Colina del Sol park in mid-January. They demanded his green card and questioned him. He has since stopped his daily exercises due to fear, affecting his high blood pressure condition. Fernando, a US citizen and nine-year military veteran in Nebraska, was pulled over by ICE agents, thrown to the ground, and had agents lay their body weight on him despite providing his Real ID and military credentials. He now only travels at night. Sara, a US-born citizen of Persian descent in Tampa, was followed by a white SUV upwards of 15 times over a month in March 2025. The experience caused severe mental health impacts including hair loss, inability to sleep or eat, and constant fear. Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, notes that imposing arrest and detention targets encourages unconstitutional shortcuts like racial profiling. The September 2025 Supreme Court ruling that allows agents to use perceived race or ethnicity as a relevant factor has only emboldened these practices. I urge you to introduce or support legislation that prohibits racial profiling by federal immigration enforcement agents, establishes independent oversight mechanisms with real accountability, and provides meaningful recourse for victims. Constitutional protections must apply to everyone regardless of appearance or ethnicity.