1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

The possibility of President Trump declaring martial law or exploiting the Insurrection Act to deploy military forces against American civilians is extremely concerning and poses a grave threat to our constitutional rights and democracy. On April 20th, Trump may receive recommendations from his Cabinet officials to take such drastic and unwarranted action under the guise of addressing immigration issues at the southern border. This administration has already demonstrated a willingness to trample on civil liberties and target legal residents like Mahmoud Khalil, who was unjustly detained for exercising free speech. Granting Trump expanded military authority risks further erosion of fundamental rights and could enable widespread repression of dissent under flimsy pretexts. We must remain vigilant against any attempts to subvert the democratic process or curtail constitutional protections. Call on elected representatives to forcefully reject any proposal for martial law or unconstitutional military deployment against the American people. Upholding the rule of law and safeguarding our rights is paramount, even in the face of manufactured crises. Our leaders must choose the path of democratic principles over authoritarian overreach.