An open letter to the U.S. Congress

Address the Culture of Cruelty in Federal Law Enforcement

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I am deeply concerned about the growing culture of cruelty within our federal law enforcement agencies, particularly Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This troubling trend appears to stem directly from the rhetoric and policies of the Trump administration, creating an environment where aggression and dehumanization have become normalized. A recent incident in a New York courthouse, where an ICE officer physically shoved a woman, exemplifies this alarming behavior. This is not an isolated event, but rather a symptom of a systemic problem that has its roots in the highest levels of our government. The dehumanizing language used by President Trump when discussing immigrants has set a dangerous precedent, one that seems to have emboldened federal agents to act with impunity and disregard for human dignity. The consequences of this culture extend far beyond individual incidents. It erodes public trust in our institutions, violates the principles of justice and human rights that our nation should uphold, and puts vulnerable communities at risk. As your constituent, I urge you to take immediate action to address this issue. We need comprehensive oversight and reform of federal law enforcement agencies, particularly ICE. This should include mandatory de-escalation training, stricter accountability measures for misconduct, and a thorough review of policies that may be encouraging or enabling aggressive behavior. Additionally, I ask that you publicly condemn the use of dehumanizing language by government officials and work to promote a more compassionate and just approach to immigration enforcement. The normalization of cruelty in our federal agencies is a crisis that demands urgent attention. Our nation's values and the well-being of countless individuals are at stake. I implore you to use your position to investigate these issues, propose legislation to address them, and work tirelessly to restore integrity and humanity to our law enforcement practices. The time for action is now, before this culture of cruelty becomes even more deeply entrenched in our institutions.

▶ Created on September 27, 2025 by Jeffrey Barlow

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