Minneapolis residents have now been living through Operation Metro Surge for well over a month.  This week, following President Trump’s signal that he would “de-escalate,” there are several new developments.  We are now in a partial government shutdown because guardrails to ICE operations are necessary, even though congressional majorities resist.  A new ICE memo has come to light, which broadens both the manner and circumstances for  warrantless arrests, despite Fourth Amendment protections. A  judge recently refused a request to halt Operation Metro Surge, and there is no evidence of de-escalation.

WHAT TO DO

Please contact your elected officials (see HOW TO DO IT below) with the following messages:

-              De-escalation of Operation Metro Surge is critical.  Citizens of our nation are being attacked by our own government while exercising their constitutional rights.

-              The illegitimate and illegal actions of ICE, CBP, and other agents undertaking immigration enforcement – anywhere – must be stopped.  These agents must cease roving patrols, maintain the same force standards as local and state police, be unmasked, have plainly visible identification, wear body cameras, and cease the overly aggressive and provocative behavior we have all witnessed in Minneapolis.  These should be prerequisites for any further DHS funding as Congress negotiates to end the shutdown.

-              The January 28 ICE memo that expands the ability for these agents to engage in warrantless arrests is an obvious escalation and requires review by the judicial branch.  Effective oversight by Congress is necessary.

-              Congress must instruct DHS to disclose identity of all databases used by facial recognition software, clarify the Constitutional basis for the use of facial recognition software on US citizens away from ports of entry, explain protocols for discrepancies between government issued documentation and software results, and prohibit use of facial recognition software on protesters and voters

Remember – we all thought the events of January 6 would put a stop to the authoritarian trend.  It did not.  This administration will make necessary temporary strategic retreats and resume their displays of dominance at later times and places of their choosing.  We need to continue and increase our messaging to legislators.  

HOW TO DO IT

Please use 5calls.org or the above bullet points to contact your elected representatives.  They need to hear from you and from more of us.  Please feel free to share this information with your family and friends and respond to ICCV if you would like to become more involved in saving our country during a time of peril.

- Senator Thom Tillis: (202) 224-6342

- Senator Ted Budd: (202) 224-3154

- Representative Pat Harrigan: (202) 225-2576

- Representative Virginia Foxx: (202) 225-2071 

To find and contact your state legislators, go to

https://www.ncleg.gov/FindYourLegislators

Enter your home address to link to contacts for your NC Senator and Representative.

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT

Here is a link to the present status of the Minneapolis Metro Surge.

ICE has violated court orders nearly 100 times during the Metro Surge in Minnesota.

How immigration enforcement actions relate to the partial government shutdown.

Here is the January 28 ICE memo broadening previous interpretations of when suspected immigrants can be arrested without a warrant.

An article on AP news discusses the implications here.

For more information about governmental use of facial recognition, click here.

Additional information about facial recognition tracking is available here, and here.

Thank you for everything you do to protect our democracy! 

ICCV Legislative Committee                                                                                                                                                             

“With Liberty and Justice for ALL