1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to support the ten ICE reform proposals outlined by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer. These common sense measures are essential to protect constitutional rights while ensuring responsible immigration enforcement. Recent events in Minneapolis, where two U.S. citizens died during ICE operations, demonstrate the urgent need for reform. Federal immigration agents have been conducting operations without adequate oversight, leading to indiscriminate arrests and constitutional violations. These reforms would establish clear standards that protect all Americans while allowing targeted enforcement against actual threats. The proposals include requiring judicial warrants before DHS officers enter private property and mandating verification that individuals are not U.S. citizens before immigration detention. These basic safeguards would prevent the wrongful detention of citizens while maintaining effective enforcement. Prohibiting face coverings during operations and requiring officers to display agency identification, unique ID numbers, and last names would create accountability that currently does not exist. Protecting sensitive locations like schools, medical facilities, churches, and polling places from enforcement actions is critical to maintaining community trust and ensuring people can access essential services without fear. The prohibition on racial profiling based on language, accent, race, or ethnicity would end discriminatory practices that violate constitutional protections. Establishing reasonable use of force standards, requiring body-worn cameras during public interactions, and preserving state and local jurisdiction to investigate excessive force incidents would create the accountability mechanisms necessary for responsible law enforcement. These measures align with standards already applied to other federal and local law enforcement agencies. The reforms would ensure detention facilities meet basic standards including immediate attorney access, allow states to sue DHS for violations, and regulate uniforms and equipment to align with civil enforcement rather than paramilitary standards. These are not radical proposals but fundamental protections that should apply to all federal law enforcement activity. I urge you to support these ten reform proposals and work toward their immediate implementation to restore constitutional protections and community safety.