From illegal raids to unlawful arrests, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has repeatedly been accused of crossing the line of legality without facing any consequences. The Constitution applies to everyone on U.S. soil, but the protections it offers are constantly threatened by the very government tasked with upholding them. America claims to support “liberty and justice for all,” but ICE’s continuous violation of the Constitution raises suspicion about who is truly protected by the government.
The government has pardoned ICE’s unlawful actions numerous times, writing off violations as acts of self-defense. Recently, the Department of Homeland Security publicly announced that recording ICE committing these acts of violence could be treated as harassment, leaving many Americans to question their rights. It is legal to record government officials, regardless of immigration status, so long as the recording doesn’t tamper with ICE’s ability to complete their job. Many officials, including ICE agents, still do not wear body cams, creating a dangerous gray area where misconduct can go undocumented, and accountability is optional. The lack of transparency allows the government to excuse ICE’s actions.
ICE also violates the Fourth Amendment, requiring warrants for searches and guarantees everyone in America the right to privacy and protection from unreasonable searches and arrests. To enter a home, ICE must have a warrant signed by a judge stating that they have a good reason to investigate or arrest someone; the only exception is if they have probable cause to search or arrest.
While the deportation of illegal immigrants is necessary, the methods that ICE uses are completely unacceptable. According to statistics from USA Today, the Obama administration deported more illegal immigrants than the Trump administration, yet executed these deportations in far less violent ways. There is absolutely no excuse for ICE to enter schools and hospitals and threaten people’s safety. Using tear gas on children and intimidating people with firearms is not a form of defense; it is a coping mechanism in which unstable individuals can let out their aggression and practice racism and xenophobia under the protection of the federal government. No one is above the law, no matter their race.
America continues to move further and further backwards in time. As ICE’s methods grow harsher, they are increasingly similar to those of the Gestapo, the Secret State Police during Nazi Germany, which entered homes, arrested and killed any suspected Jews. There is no telling when this stream of hatred and violence will end, with various attacks happening across multiple cities throughout the country.
The Constitution does not ask for proof of citizenship before granting rights. Amendments and laws are not just patriotic statements; they are a code to restore the government’s power and protect human dignity. People are humans before they are illegal immigrants, despite being referred to as “aliens”, a dehumanizing term made to excuse the harsh conditions that they are put through. Rights are not a privilege that Americans indulge in– they are human rights that must be upheld.
America was founded as a haven for individuals fleeing oppression. It was created to be a melting pot where diversity could exist, and people could feel safe in their own homes. Now, ICE is racially profiling, murdering and undermining the rights that Americans have fought for for generations. Exercising these constitutional rights is not only an act of self-defense, but it’s also a moral obligation to defend those who are vulnerable. After all, if “We the People” means anything, it means everyone.
