The violence and vitriol directed at ICE agents is entirely misplaced. In their anger, protesters are ignoring a fundamental truth: Agents do not create policy; they enforce it.
These men and women are doing exactly what the government hired and empowered them to do. If our leaders truly disagree with current immigration laws, they have the legislative power to change the rules. Yet many of these officials would rather hide behind heated rhetoric than take a definitive stand on the record.
If our leaders want open borders or noncitizen voting rights, they should have the courage to say so and put those issues on the ballot. Instead, they choose to demonize civil servants for carrying out the mandates that they — the lawmakers — refuse to change.
It is time to stop attacking the employees for doing their jobs and start holding the employers accountable for the laws they created and maintain.
James Shaw
Hempfield