Letter to the editor: ICE agents' actions a disgrace

The recent actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations agents ordered to the streets of America has been a national disgrace. The role of our federal agents is to protect us, not to terrorize us at our work, our retail stores, our restaurants or our schools … as they search to “target and grab” those who look like they could be an “illegal.”

The presence of dozens of masked individuals dressed in all black or military gear, wielding guns, riding in unmarked vans and lacking identification, is excessive and resembles Gestapo tactics. These behaviors disregard our constitutional right to due process, a basic principle of our American legal system which protects our freedom against a potentially vengeful government. It also ensures we will not be incarcerated because we simply disagree with government or because of the color of our skin or the country of our ancestors.

Please contact your lawmakers demanding that they legislate to end the potential normalization of these unconstitutional behaviors by our federal agents. If we let this go on … maybe our neighbors will be next to disappear. We need to trust our government, not fear it.

Mary Ann Lauffer

North Huntingdon