Uphold the Rule of Law

You wrote in your last email to constituents that “Public safety and the rule of law are fundamental in our communities, and our law enforcement officers work diligently to uphold these values. Recent reports of increased violence in cities across Virginia and the nation are deeply disturbing, particularly when the violence is perpetrated by repeat offenders residing in the country illegally.” Sadly, you continue to focus on defaming immigrants while the January 6th insurrectionists who were pardoned have gone on to reoffend at a rate of 1 per 16 individuals. Their crimes include domestic violence, assault, and weapons violations. At least 14 have been charged with sex crimes or crimes involving child sexual abuse material. This information is readily available, yet you continue to perpetrate rhetoric about violence from immigrants. Over 70% of ICE detentions have no criminal record. For those who detainees who do have a record, the most common charges and convictions are typically civil immigration violations, nonviolent vice crimes, and driving under the influence (DUI), rather than violent crimes. Taxpayer dollars are being wasted on private prisons at the cost of $59 billion dollars a year to incarcerate thousands of individuals with no criminal record. If you believe as you wrote that, “we must uphold the rule of law and ensure that immigration enforcement is carried out in a humane and professional manner that is consistent with constitutional protections and due process”, I urge you to speak out against the current conditions and quotas for detentions, participate in unscheduled visits to detention centers, and oppose the pardons and any financial compensation for individuals who participated in the Jan. 6th insurrection. Your bias towards those who sow hatred and fear regrading immigrants and leniency for Jan.6th insurrectionists is an embarrassment.