UPDATE: A new joint Congressional investigation has just been launched in response to alarming revelations by ProPublica, which found that over 170 U.S. citizens were detained by immigration agents this year. The investigation, announced by House and Senate leaders, will scrutinize the treatment of American citizens by federal authorities, with a hearing set to take place in Los Angeles.
The minority leaders of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations are leading this urgent inquiry into the troubling statistics that have surfaced. “Over 170 U.S. Citizens are being arrested. Why? Because they look like me,” stated Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) during a press conference alongside Mayor Karen Bass. The investigation aims to uncover the reasons behind these detentions, which disproportionately affect Latino citizens.
ProPublica’s investigation revealed that at least 50 citizens have been detained solely based on their citizenship status as of October 5, 2023. Most detainees were Latino, with around 130 others apprehended during raids or protests under dubious allegations of assault. Disturbingly, many of these cases have been poorly substantiated, leading to claims of excessive force by immigration officers, including reports of citizens being beaten, tackled, and even shot.
The mistreatment of U.S. citizens appears to coincide with a broader trend of aggressive immigration enforcement, particularly in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.. Garcia emphasized the need for transparency, demanding all records regarding the treatment of U.S. citizens by immigration officials across the nation. “We want to understand what they are doing in our neighborhoods,” he asserted.
In a letter sent to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Garcia and Sen. Richard Blumenthal highlighted that the aggressive tactics have not been evenly distributed across the country, raising concerns about racial profiling, particularly against Latinos. “The pattern of U.S. citizen arrests coincides with an alarming increase in racial profiling,” they wrote.
In response, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin denied claims of racial profiling, asserting that the agency enforces federal immigration law “without fear, favor, or prejudice.” McLaughlin’s statement came alongside White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson, who criticized the rhetoric from politicians and activists, attributing it to increased hostility towards ICE officers.
The investigation has raised significant public concern, as it underscores the potential for any American to be wrongly detained. Mayor Bass remarked, “What is happening to undocumented residents is also happening to U.S. citizens, which means this can happen to anyone, to all of us, at any period of time.”
As this urgent investigation unfolds, it will be crucial to monitor the findings from the upcoming hearing in Los Angeles and the ongoing responses from the DHS. The implications of this inquiry extend far beyond the 170 citizens already affected, touching on broader issues of civil liberties and immigration enforcement practices in the United States.
Stay tuned for the latest updates as this developing story progresses.
