1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

The Trump administration's plan for ICE to monitor social media and compile dossiers on people who criticize the agency online is a blatant violation of First Amendment free speech rights. Tasking private contractors to scour the internet for "negative sentiment" about ICE officials and operations, including collecting personal information on critics, would create a chilling effect on freedom of expression. Such a program would deter people from voicing legitimate concerns or dissent about immigration enforcement policies and practices. Criticism of government actions and officials is a core constitutional protection, not grounds for surveillance and retaliation. ICE should abandon this misguided effort that undermines civil liberties. The public has a right to openly discuss and debate the conduct of federal law enforcement agencies without fear of being targeted and investigated.