U.S. Immigration And Customs Enforcement, ICE, responsible for enforcing immigration laws has raised serious questions about agents going against human rights. Human rights organizations from around the country have investigated ICE actions that have concerned the safety and fairness of our nation.
In just a couple of months, ICE has detained over 68,400 people, taking them away from their families, homes, and jobs. Some individuals have been detained or deported without even having access to due process or representation, which is a core human right in the U.S. They have been separated from their families, without even knowing for how long. In many cases, one or more parents are detained or deported, tearing up families for long periods of time. This causes emotional harm, especially to children, and goes against human rights that emphasize the importance of being with family and maintaining happiness.
Furthermore, there have been many instances where ICE has been caught firing at unarmed civilians, who many times are carrying out their human right of protesting against something they find unlawful. As stated in Wired’s article called, “ICE Pretends It’s a Military Force. Its Tactics Would Get Real Soldiers Killed,” John Publius states, “There are persons who may or may not have violated civil law. These people have not declared an intent to resist violently and with deadly force. Yet ICE shows up with maximum force and intimidation—often roping in people on the sidelines and increasing the media impact of their actions.” This is an accurately detailed description of what ICE has done to people who are nonviolent and expressing their rights as U.S. citizens.
To add, later in the article, Publius states, “ICE and federal agents have publicly killed two unarmed American citizens.” This highlights the extent of ICE brutality, going as far as killing U.S. citizens to get their “job” done. It goes against the safety and freedom of speech that America prides itself on throughout all these years.
To conclude, while governments have the right to enforce immigration laws, it is clear that ICE goes too far and violates basic human rights. It is obvious that it is time to take a step back and prioritize humane treatment and respect for all people, regardless of their immigration status.
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