1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to exercise immediate and forceful Congressional oversight of the Trump administration’s plan to construct immigration detention facilities across the country. This sweeping proposal raises profound legal, constitutional, and human rights concerns. It signals a dramatic expansion of federal detention infrastructure—one that risks further undermining due process, inflaming fear in immigrant communities, and burdening state and local governments. Without robust oversight, this plan could erode core democratic values and lead to widespread civil liberties violations. We have already seen the human and fiscal consequences of past detention policies: family separations, prolonged detentions without hearings, and disturbing reports of abuse and neglect. The current plan appears even more expansive and punitive, with little transparency about due process, location, or standards of care. Congress has both the authority and the responsibility to scrutinize such actions—especially when they implicate constitutional rights, federal spending, and basic human dignity. I urge you to: • Demand full disclosure of contracts and plans related to the proposed detention facilities • Hold public hearings with DHS, ICE, and DOJ officials • Enact guardrails through the appropriations process to prevent the misuse of federal funds • Support legislation that protects the civil liberties of immigrants and limits the use of mass detention This is not merely a policy disagreement. It is a question of who we are as a country. Congress must not remain silent as the executive branch moves to normalize mass incarceration of immigrants. Thank you for your attention and leadership in this critical moment. I look forward to seeing you stand up for the rule of law, human rights, and constitutional accountability.