1. United States
2. Kan.
3. Letter

I am writing to strongly oppose President Trump’s executive order “Strengthening and Unleashing America’s Law Enforcement to Pursue Criminals and Protect Innocent Citizens.” Although issued at the federal level, this order would place heavy new burdens on state and local law enforcement agencies. It risks draining resources away from real public safety work and would damage trust between police and the communities they serve. States and localities must understand the consequences of this policy and reject its harmful directives. The executive order pressures local officers to prioritize immigration enforcement, even though research shows that the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals and that immigrant communities often have lower crime rates than native-born populations (American Immigration Council, 2024). Law enforcement leaders across the country have long warned that turning local police into immigration agents erodes trust, discourages victims from reporting crimes, and makes neighborhoods less safe (Urban Institute, 2024). The order also weakens important accountability measures, indemnifying officers accused of misconduct while pulling back efforts to address racial profiling. Studies show that fair, community-centered policing makes officers’ jobs easier and strengthens public safety (Brennan Center for Justice, 2023). Ignoring these lessons would create deeper divisions, harm vulnerable communities, and place police officers in increasingly complex and dangerous positions. I urge you to stand against this executive order. Protect the ability of local and state law enforcement to focus on real crime, not political mandates. Public safety depends on trust, accountability, and smart use of limited resources, not divisive federal orders that put both citizens and officers at risk.