1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

I wanted to message about three urgent issues, on which I hope you will take bold action. First, I just read that an innocent Maryland father, Kilmar Abrego García, was deported to the notorious torture camp in El Salvador, on the mere suspicion of being a gang member. This man had no criminal conviction, had done nothing illegal. Yet our government rounded him up, along with hundreds of others, completely disregarding due process. I am shocked that Congress has not pushed back harder against the administration's cruel use of the WWII-era Alien Enemies Act - under which our government sent thousands of innocent Japanese-Americans to internment camps. Have we learned nothing in all these years? Will Congress sit back and allow Trump to repeat history's most egregious mistakes? As a teacher, whenever I hear of injustices like this, I immediately think of the immigrant families in my school, hardworking, kind, caring parents who sacrifice so much for their children. Some have fled dangerous circumstances in their home countries. They are the last people who should ever have to live in fear of being ripped away from the homes they have found. They deserve our respect, admiration, and care. I know you are working with the courts to challenge Trump's executive orders, and I want to thank you so much for that. But your constituents need you to take a stronger stance on the Congress floor, as well. The recent executive order revoking protected status for Ukrainian, Venezuelan, Cuban, Haitian, and Nicaraguan refugees is beyond cruel - and without that protected status, we have seen what can happen - and is happening right now. Kidnapping and deportation without due process or cause. Also, just as innocent immigrants are being violently arrested, peaceful legal residents are, as well. The right of freedom of speech has been enshrined in our constitution since the creation of the Bill of Rights - yet today, Trump's administration is punishing people for this very free speech. Many students, like Mahmoud Khalil and Rumeya Ozturk, have been snatched off the street by masked men, and sent to detention centers without cause. These are people who have only spoken peacefully, without violence - and yet Trump orders their kidnapping, taking them away from their loved ones without the right to due process that every US resident is entitled to. Lastly, as a teacher and librarian, I urge you to speak up against Trump's attempt to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Education and access to information are cornerstones of democracy. Don't stand by as they are ground down by a man whose every action has shown he cares nothing for democracy or for truth. Thank you for listening, and fighting for us.