LETTER: We should be outraged by ICE behavior

To the editor,

We in America have freedom of speech, right to assembly, and the right to due process as stated in amendments to the Constitution. Our Senators and Representatives take an oath to uphold the Constitution and its amendments when they are sworn into office. I feel those freedoms and rights are being challenged. 

I have relatives in the Minneapolis area that have shared real life stories of things that are happening there. These stories are heartbreaking to hear and involve people being mistreated by ICE agents. The ICE agents are masked, causing physical harm, and treating people inhumanely. Little children are being separated from their families, being detained and even deported. Some children are not going to school anymore, families are not going to the grocery store or to medical appointments, or going to parks or the movies because of fear. It is not just immigrants that this is happening to, it is US citizens too. 

Citizens are being sprayed with chemical agents for peacefully protesting. On January 24th, a second person, Alex Pretti, was shot and killed in Minneapolis by ICE agents during a protest. If police in Iowa shoot and kill someone, that person is put on administrative leave while it is investigated to see if deadly force was justified. Not in this case. And Minnesota law enforcement was barred from investigating Alex Pretti’s death. 

I can understand wanting to get dangerous criminals off the streets, but these are not all criminals that these things are happening to. But they are people and should be treated humanely. And if some in our country are being mistreated, or not being allowed the rights we have under the Constitution, we should all be outraged! It is not Christian. It is not American. We have a moral obligation to ask our Senators and Representatives to stand up for all who live in this country.  

Sue Schemmel

Monticello