1. United States
2. Kan.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to support the legislation introduced by Kansas House Democrats on January 29, 2026, that would regulate U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations within our state. This bill addresses serious constitutional concerns while establishing basic accountability standards that Kansas law enforcement already follows. The legislation requires ICE agents to complete a 14-week law enforcement training program equivalent to Kansas state standards, display identification on uniforms, clearly mark vehicles, and verbally identify themselves when asked. These are not radical demands. These are the same professional standards we expect from every Kansas law enforcement officer. The bill also requires ICE to obtain judicial warrants before conducting door-to-door raids of residential dwellings and court orders before deploying surveillance tools, protecting the Fourth Amendment rights of all Kansas residents. As Rep. Melissa Oropeza stated, this is fundamentally about human dignity and Fourth Amendment rights. When federal agents operate in our communities without proper identification, without warrants, and without accountability when people are injured or killed in custody, they undermine the constitutional protections that apply to every person in Kansas, regardless of immigration status. The bill also protects sensitive locations by prohibiting ICE from sweeping places of worship, schools, hospitals, daycare centers, and courthouses without warrants. These protections ensure that Kansas families can access essential services, that children can attend school, and that people can seek medical care without fear. As Rep. Angela Martinez noted, while immigration is a federal issue, its impacts are felt in our schools, communities, neighborhoods, and workplaces. Federal immigration reform has not been addressed in three decades. Until Congress acts, Kansas has both the authority and the responsibility to ensure that federal agents operating within our borders respect the same constitutional standards and professional conduct requirements that bind our own law enforcement. I urge you to support this legislation and stand up for the constitutional rights of all Kansas residents.