Halt ICE's Unconstitutional DNA Collection and Storage Tactics

I am a voting constituent writing to express strenuous opposition regarding recent reports—most notably detailed by NPR on March 18, 2026—revealing that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are forcibly collecting DNA samples from individuals arrested during peaceful protests. According to the report, "ICE officers are taking DNA samples from protesters they’ve arrested," these genetic profiles are being uploaded into the FBI’s national Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). This practice is a chilling expansion of federal surveillance that targets American citizens exercising their First Amendment rights. The use of immigration enforcement tools to catalog the genetic code of political dissenters is not only a gross overreach of authority but a direct assault on our fundamental civil liberties. I urge you to consider the following grave concerns: Constitutional Violations: This practice violates the Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches and seizures. Collecting the "entire genetic code" of individuals who have not been convicted of a crime—and in many cases, are merely being intimidated for observing or filming law enforcement—is a radical departure from established legal norms. Infringement on Free Speech: When citizens know that participating in a protest could result in their DNA being stored indefinitely in a criminal database, it creates a powerful "chilling effect." This discourages civic engagement and undermines the First Amendment right to peaceably assemble and petition the government for a redress of grievances. Sensitivity of Genetic Data: DNA is not a fingerprint; it is a blueprint of an individual’s ancestry, health predispositions, and familial connections. Allowing ICE to weaponize this deeply personal information against protesters creates a "genetic surveillance web" that could be used for lifelong tracking and retaliation. Lack of Oversight: Reports indicate that DHS has previously collected DNA from thousands of U.S. citizens without transparent justification. The expansion of this program into a "protester database" occurs without congressional authorization or public debate, bypassing the democratic process entirely. The government should not be allowed to engage in biological surveillance of its own people. I respectfully request that you: Initiate a formal Congressional investigation into ICE’s use of DNA collection and surveillance technologies against protesters and legal observers. Support legislation that explicitly prohibits the collection and retention of DNA from individuals arrested for participating in First Amendment-protected activities. Demand an immediate moratorium on the uploading of protesters' DNA to federal databases until a full constitutional review is conducted. We cannot allow border enforcement to dismantle Constitutional rights and protections. I look forward to hearing about the steps you will take to protect the privacy and constitutional rights of your constituents.