1. United States
2. Ala.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge strong oversight of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in light of alarming reports from Minnesota. News coverage there describes ICE agents disguising themselves as construction workers, utility workers, and drivers, and using unmarked or dummy license plates while carrying out arrests in neighborhoods.[1][2] These “ruses” raise serious constitutional and civil liberties concerns and erode public trust in law enforcement.[3] If such tactics are normalized in Minnesota, they can easily spread to other states, including Alabama. We have already seen aggressive ICE activity and wrongful detentions in Alabama workplaces, including the documented case of a U.S. citizen detained twice in workplace raids.[4] I do not want to see deceptive or abusive enforcement practices expanded in our communities. I am asking you to: (1) demand a public, written explanation from DHS and ICE about these tactics and their legal basis; (2) support public hearings to question DHS and ICE leadership; and (3) back legislation and funding limits that prohibit impersonation “ruses,” suspicionless stops, and warrantless arrests.[2][5][3] Please let me know what specific steps you will take to ensure these practices are investigated, limited, and not used in Alabama. Citations: [1] Community members fear ICE agents are now disguising ... https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/community-members-fear-ice-agents-disguising-themselves/ [2] Reports of ICE ruses add to fears in Minnesota - AP News https://apnews.com/article/immigration-ice-agents-minneapolis-ruse-54ca86155182edceeda68e649b5518f7 [3] Does the ICE Crackdown in Minnesota Violate the Tenth Amendment? https://statecourtreport.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/does-ice-crackdown-minnesota-violate-tenth-amendment [4] U.S. citizen wrongfully detained twice in Alabama workplace raids ... https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/u-s-citizen-wrongfully-detained-twice-in-alabama-workplace-raids-sues-immigration-authorities [5] ACLU Sues Federal Government to End ICE, CBP's Practice of ... https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-sues-federal-government-to-end-ice-cbps-practice-of-suspicionless-stops-warrantless-arrests-and-racial-profiling-of-minnesotans