1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding recent immigration enforcement actions that appear to have been conducted without proper oversight and due process, leading to significant violations of individuals' rights and, in some cases, wrongful deportations. While I fully support the legal deportation of felons who have been convicted through proper judicial proceedings, it is crucial that innocent people are not caught up in the net due to the bypassing of legal safeguards. Even one innocent person wrongly detained or deported is too many—it could be any of us or a loved one. Notably, the Trump administration has invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expedite the deportation of alleged gang members, bypassing traditional legal procedures. This approach has resulted in the deportation of individuals without adequate evidence or hearings, undermining the foundational principles of our justice system. For instance, Venezuelan migrants were deported to El Salvador under harsh conditions, with reports indicating that some had no criminal records and were wrongfully identified based on superficial indicators like tattoos. Furthermore, a recent case involved Venezuelan migrants who had signed documents to return to their home country but were instead deported to El Salvador, where they were detained in a maximum-security prison. This deviation from their expected destination raises serious questions about the administration's adherence to due process and respect for individual rights. A particularly troubling example is the recent deportation of Ma Yang, a 37-year-old Hmong American mother of five from Milwaukee. Yang was deported to Laos, a country she has never visited and where she has no family or support network. She has lived in the United States since she was 8 months old and does not speak the Lao language. Her deportation has left her stranded in an unfamiliar country, separated from her children and partner of 16 years, highlighting the severe consequences of inadequate oversight in immigration enforcement. These incidents highlight a troubling pattern of immigration enforcement actions conducted without proper oversight and due process. I urge you to advocate for policies that ensure all individuals are afforded their constitutional rights, regardless of their immigration status. Upholding due process is essential to maintaining the integrity of our legal system and protecting the fundamental rights upon which our nation was built. Thank you for your attention to this critical issue.