1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

The potential invocation of the Insurrection Act of 1807 by President Trump to deploy military forces at the southern border is an alarming overreach of executive power that must be prevented. This archaic law has been used sparingly throughout history, primarily to quell violent insurrections and unrest, not for routine immigration enforcement. Weaponizing the military against civilians at the border would be a drastic and undemocratic step that could lead to further consolidation of power and authoritarian tendencies. The administration's claims of a national emergency at the border are not supported by facts. Illegal border crossings have dropped significantly, reaching historic lows recently. Deploying troops in this manner would be a vastly disproportionate response that undermines civil liberties and could enable human rights abuses. Comprehensive immigration reform is needed, but it must come through proper legislative channels that respect democratic norms, not by circumventing Congress and the courts. The path being considered by the President is rife with constitutional concerns over separation of powers and states' rights that could set a dangerous precedent. I urge you to forcefully oppose any attempt to invoke the Insurrection Act and to pursue a lawful, humane approach to border security and immigration policy through bipartisan cooperation and adherence to American values of freedom and limited government power. The nation's core principles are at stake.