1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing out of deep fear for my community and for my children. The actions of ICE increasingly resemble those of a brutal, unaccountable paramilitary force operating against U.S. citizens and residents, rather than a civilian agency bound by democratic norms and the rule of law. Armed raids, intimidation, and the deliberate sowing of fear in neighborhoods are not compatible with a free society. I do not want my children growing up afraid of their own government or learning that violence and intimidation are acceptable tools of policy. This moment demands moral clarity and decisive action. Congress must act to rein in ICE, impose strict accountability, and dismantle practices that endanger communities and undermine democratic governance. Silence or incremental reform is not enough. This is a direct threat to democracy, and it requires urgent, unequivocal action.