The pounding of American democracy by masked bullethead thugs from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is unconscionable and immoral, particularly after a violent January.
Congress must act now to shut down malicious, unconstitutional and unethical behavior by ICE agents — especially in Minneapolis where they shot and killed nurse Alex Pretti on a freezing Saturday morning. Some would argue — with a lot of evidence — that ICE agents executed him.
It is not acceptable or constitutional for ICE agents — in Minneapolis or anywhere — to drag people out of their cars, enter homes without warrants or treat law-abiding American citizens like criminals.
It is not acceptable for federal officials to jump without hesitation into lying, corrupt behavior and soundbites before any investigation has gotten started. Classifying a nurse dedicated to caring for veterans as a “domestic terrorist” was a leap into Orwellian doublespeak that defied what millions of Americans could see plain as day on citizen videos. These federal officials simply lied. They should have zero power.
It is unacceptable for an ICE agent to have shot a calm Minneapolis mother of three, Renee Good, who was trying to flee a scene of escalating violence fueled by too much testosterone, too much adrenaline, too much lack of common sense.
It is unacceptable for at least six others, all foreigners, to have died in ICE-related actions or custody this month elsewhere in the United States: Heber Sanchaz Dominguez (in detention, Georgia); Victor Manuel Diaz (in detention, Texas); Parody La (in custody at hospital treatment, Philadelphia), Luis Beltran Yanez-Cruz (in custody at hospital, Los Angeles); Luis Gustavo Nunez Caceres (in custody at hospital, Houston); and Geraldo Lunas Campos (homicide at Texas detention facility).
All of this violence desecrates the United States Constitution. It must stop. America is not a Nazi republic — but if federal officials elected in a representative democracy do not stand up immediately and halt what’s happening, who knows what could happen to the country that opened freedom to the world 250 years ago?
The United States Congress must act now to hold ICE and its leaders accountable by exercising its constitutional authority over federal spending.
According to political analyst G. Elliott Morris on Jan. 24, “All it would take to end the murder of American citizens by an untrained government goon squad is 16 Republicans in Congress voting with Dems to defund ICE (or 23 to impeach and remove Trump — 3 in House and 20 in Senate). That’s it.
23 Americans can vote for the public and end all of this.”
That means you, Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott. And that means you, Representatives Nancy Mace (1st District), Joe Wilson (2nd), Sherri Biggs (3rd), William Timmons (4th), Ralph Norman (5th), James Clyburn (6th) and Russell Fry (7th). So far, only Clyburn, a Democrat, has excoriated ICE for its actions.
Congress must cut budgets, completely overhaul ICE and force out agents and ICE leaders who trampled on American citizen rights in Minneapolis and elsewhere. It should impeach unhinged Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem who has drunk so much of the MAGA Kool-Aid that she’s completely removed from reality and the law enforcement values of protecting and serving Americans.
Take off your blinders and red MAGA hats, Congress. There’s a document that provides the clear guidance you so desperately need. It’s called the U.S. Constitution.
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