Adams County Democratic Committee calls on the Trump administration to end the chaos and address the rampant threat to the rule of law that ICE has come to represent. 

ICE and Customs & Border Protection (CBP) agents have repeatedly denied the right to due process to individuals. It has detained, arrested, and surveilled U.S. citizens as well as undocumented immigrants, including through racial profiling, mistaken identity, and coercive enforcement tactics that amount to kidnappings under the color of law, even here in Adams County.

ICE is now completely adrift from its founding mission of protecting our border and communities and instead has become a lawless vehicle of chaos.

These actions have eroded public trust in the agencies and have made it harder for local law enforcement to do their duties.  Increased funding for ICE has also come at the detriment of funding for other law enforcement agencies.

While recognizing the need for border security, the Adams County Democratic Committee stands in opposition to any federal overreach, and specifically the out of control actions of federal agencies that do nothing to keep our communities safe but actively endanger people who are contributing members of Pennsylvania society. 

We  call for the end of federal abuse under the Trump administration of the voluntary partnerships between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and local law enforcement  authorized by Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

We urge U.S. Senators to oppose funding for ICE, including through the Department of Homeland Security appropriations, until significant reforms are made to address the threats to safety the organization poses to the people of Pennsylvania.

We urge Governor Shapiro and Pennsylvania’s legislature to use all means available to curtail ICE activity in Pennsylvania and protect our citizens and lawful residents.

• We represent the union worker, the minimum wage earner, the person struggling to make a livable wage;

• We believe in healthcare for all, help for the mentally ill and addicted;

• We believe all people are created equal in the eyes of the law, regardless of race, creed, or nationality;

• We advocate for the immigrant, the minority, those who work with their hands and those who work with their minds;

• We believe that sexual orientation is not a basis for discrimination;

• We represent those in professions and those in vital service industries;

• We advocate for the veteran—who gave more to this country than most of us can possibly imagine;

• We represent the child, the woman, the elderly, and believe no one should live in fear; and

• We are ever changing, willing to reach out to a fluid society and tackle each obstacle that materializes.

• We denounce white supremacy and police violence in all its forms. 

• We are appalled by the murder of George Floyd and other people of color by police.

• We do NOT condone violence and looting at protests; violence on all sides must end. 

• We condemn attacks on peaceful protesters and the use of regular military and federal law enforcement against peaceful protesters.

• Virtually every recent federal and state civil rights legislation has been spearheaded by Democrats; it is incumbent on us to follow that lead.

• We charge our elected officials to improve and expand civil rights efforts. We condemn any effort to whittle away at these protections.  Institutionalized racism must end.

• These turbulent times require that members of communities beyond just the ones under attack stand up and speak out.

• Racism, white supremacy, and state-sanctioned violence are issues we all need to stand against.

• We must do everything we can to modify the systems that perpetuate racial injustice in policing, health care, employment, housing, and voting. 

• Silent agreement can be seen as supporting the status quo. It behooves all of us to educate ourselves about the silent, insidious, unaware racism that surrounds us. Resources are available from many organizations, including the Southern Poverty Law Center’s “Teaching Tolerance” (www.splccenter.org/teaching-tolerance ), and STAND earth (www.STAND.earth ).

Campaign Zero has a list of eight things that can reduce police violence by 72%.

• Ban chokeholds and strangleholds,

• Require reporting of all force,
• Require de-escalation,

• Exercise a duty to intervene,
• Require warning before shooting,

• Establish use of force continuum,
• Exhaust all alternatives before shooting, and

• Ban shooting at moving vehicles.

(Find more information at www.8cantwait.org.)

These suggestions are among many helping to provide effective ways to channel our energy in support of people's lives and systemic reform. Our police and responders need training in all of these ways to help them do their vitally important jobs. 

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Adams County Democratic Committee will support local advocacy efforts and coordinate with established and ad hoc groups who are keeping this incredibly important matter visible and audible by making our members and friends aware of local events and activities.

We support  Governor Shapiro and Senator Fetterman in their efforts to make our country and our Commonwealth just and equal for all, especially including the all-important November 4th election to put Democrats back in charge.