1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

Establish State and National Database for ICE Encounter Documentation I am writing to urge you to immediately establish a secure state database for residents to report and document encounters with ICE agents, and to advocate for federal legislation creating a national database housed in a neutral country to preserve this critical evidence. New Jersey Governor Sherrill recently launched an online portal for residents to report ICE encounters, encouraging documentation through cellphone videos. She stated, "If you see an ICE agent in the street, get your phone out. We want to know. They'll pick up American citizens. They picked up a 5-year-old child." This proactive approach provides a model for protecting civil liberties and ensuring accountability. Recent incidents demonstrate the urgent need for systematic documentation. Alex Pretti was killed while peacefully filming ICE brutality. Georgia Fort were arrested while covering protests and live streaming. A viral video shows an ICE agent ripping a phone from an elderly U.S. citizen and throwing her to the ground when she attempted to retrieve it. These incidents reveal a pattern of potential civil rights violations and obstruction of documentation efforts. A state database would allow residents to safely report encounters, preserve evidence, and identify patterns of misconduct or constitutional violations. However, domestic databases remain vulnerable to political pressure, data deletion, or access restrictions. A national database housed in a neutral country would provide an additional layer of protection, ensuring evidence preservation regardless of changes in administration or policy. This dual approach serves multiple purposes: protecting American citizens from wrongful detention, documenting potential civil rights violations, holding federal agents accountable, and preserving evidence that might otherwise be destroyed or suppressed. The incidents involving journalists and the elderly citizen demonstrate that current oversight mechanisms are insufficient. I urge you to introduce legislation establishing both a state reporting portal and advocating for an internationally housed national database. Our constituents deserve protection from overreach and the assurance that evidence of misconduct will be preserved.