1. United States
2. La.
3. Letter

I am a Louisiana constituent writing to urge you to oppose any additional funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement unless and until the Department of Homeland Security undertakes meaningful reforms to bring ICE operations back in line with democratic norms, constitutional protections, and basic standards of accountability. I recognize that border security and immigration enforcement are legitimate federal responsibilities. But legitimacy depends on lawful, restrained, and transparent execution. In recent years, ICE has repeatedly demonstrated a pattern of conduct—opaque decision-making, inadequate oversight, and disregard for due process—that undermines public trust and weakens, rather than strengthens, the rule of law. Congress should not reward institutional dysfunction with blank-check appropriations. Conditioning funding on concrete reforms—clear use-of-force standards, meaningful internal and external oversight, compliance with constitutional limits, and accurate public reporting—would not weaken enforcement. It would strengthen it by restoring legitimacy and public confidence. As a physician and legislator, you have often emphasized evidence-based policy and institutional responsibility. Applying those principles here means insisting on reform before expansion. Additional funding without guardrails risks entrenching practices that many Americans, across the political spectrum, find inconsistent with our democratic values. I respectfully urge you to vote against further ICE funding unless it is tied to enforceable DHS reforms and congressional oversight mechanisms. Accountability should come first. Thank you for your service and for considering my views.