1. United States
2. S.C.
3. Letter

The arrest of international students like Rumeysa Öztürk by ICE agents without due process is deeply concerning and antithetical to American values. Öztürk held a valid F-1 student visa yet was taken into custody on the street without warning. This heavy-handed tactic of snatching individuals in public spaces mirrors practices seen in authoritarian regimes. While the government has the authority to enforce immigration laws, it must do so through proper legal channels that respect human dignity and constitutional rights. Deploying masked agents to apprehend students is an excessive show of force designed to intimidate. It undermines the nation's founding principles and sends a chilling message. This approach is misguided and disproportionately impacts vulnerable communities. Reasoned immigration policies developed through robust public discourse would better uphold democratic traditions and the rule of law.