Congress Must Rein In ICE Now and Stop ICE’s Assault on American Freedoms

Rein In ICE And Hold Agents Personally Accountable On September 19, 2025, in Broadview, Illinois, federal officers fired chemical projectiles into a peaceful crowd and struck a praying pastor in the head—not by accident, but with reckless disregard for life and constitutional freedom. Rev. David Black stood unarmed with open hands in prayer when ICE agents hit him repeatedly with pepper balls. That violence should shock every official sworn to uphold the Constitution. Such acts are unconscionable in a democracy. Congress should condemn these abuses by ICE, impose strict operating rules, establish personal liability for egregious conduct, and launch immediate oversight to protect constitutional rights. Congressional Oversight Is Urgently Needed ICE’s unchecked use of force has crossed a moral and constitutional line. Agents have targeted clergy, journalists, and peaceful demonstrators, showing contempt for the rule of law and the rights of speech, assembly, and worship. Congress should confront this lawlessness before it becomes accepted federal practice. Impose Binding Operating Rules Congress should require clear warnings before any crowd action, prohibit headshots and indiscriminate chemical agents, impose a duty to intervene, and mandate prompt release of body-camera footage. These measures would help to end the impunity now undermining public trust in federal law enforcement. Establish Personal Accountability To stop these abuses, Congress should limit qualified immunity for willful or reckless violations of rights. Officers who commit deliberate harm should face personal financial liability, decertification, and permanent loss of credentials. Victims deserve immediate medical care and compensation from both agency funds and responsible officers. Hold Hearings Now Committees should subpoena DHS and ICE leadership, obtain use-of-force policies, hear sworn testimony from victims and community leaders, and suspend all chemical agents in crowd settings until an independent review is complete. The Urgency Of Congressional Action Every day of delay invites further abuse and deepens public mistrust. At stake are the core freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution—the right to free speech, assembly, worship, and to seek redress. If Congress fails to act swiftly, it signals that these rights can be trampled without consequence. Prompt, principled oversight is essential to restore accountability and safeguard the liberties that define our Republic.