1. United States
2. Ind.
3. Letter

I’m writing as a constituent regarding federal ICE conduct and what state government can do about it, independent of Washington.   This year alone, federal immigration agents have KILLED U.S. citizens and legal residents in Minneapolis, Houston, and Biddeford, Maine — in each case, the person killed was not the actual target of the operation, agents were not wearing body cameras despite federal funding for that purpose, and DHS’s account of events was disputed by witnesses on the scene.   States don’t control federal immigration policy. But several have already shown what they can do within their own jurisdiction, and I’m asking you to support the same or defend it against inevitable efforts to rollback:               •           Require a judicial warrant — not just an internal ICE administrative warrant — before state or local agencies cooperate with immigration enforcement or before agents enter a home. Several states, including Virginia, Maryland, and Maine have all enacted versions of this.             •           Give the state authority to independently investigate ICE-involved deaths and shootings, rather than relying solely on DHS’s own internal review. Virginia, for example, has enacted this, and it’s a direct response to DOJ’s months-long refusal to provide key evidence to local investigators after the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.             •           Require ICE agents to identify themselves and bar face coverings during operations in the state. Some states, including California, Washington, Oregon, Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Virginia, have all passed some version of this.             •           Fund legal defense and create a damages remedy for people wrongfully detained. Maine is one state that has this pending in its legislature now.   None of this requires federal cooperation, and none of it prevents legitimate immigration enforcement — it requires that enforcement follow a warrant, a face, and a name, and it gives victims and their families a way to find out what actually happened when something goes wrong. I’d strongly demand that you to support it, or to defend it because it’s already law! To specifically Senator Banks and those who are enabling his rhetoric - Enough of the lies and performative nonsense regarding the 14th Amendment! It is legal and a part of the Constitution and it should not be messed with by you or anyone else. Stop this divisive and discriminatory rhetoric! You obviously do not understand the law, the Constitution, or the fact that our country was founded and created by immigrants.