Congresswoman Norma Torres Urges Justice Department and Homeland Security to End Fear-Based Immigration Tactics
Warns ICE Strategies Are Undermining Public Safety and Silencing Crime Victims
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Norma Torres sent a letter to Attorney General Pamela Bondi and Secretary Kristi Noem, raising urgent concerns about the growing public safety impact of anti-immigrant tactics employed by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) under the current administration. Drawing on her 17 years of experience as a 911 dispatcher, Congresswoman Torres warned that fear-driven immigration enforcement is silencing crime victims and undermining public safety nationwide.
“Trust in law enforcement is not just a matter of comfort; it’s a matter of public safety,” said Congresswoman Norma Torres. “When people are too scared to call the police, crime goes up, and our communities suffer.”
In her letter, the Congresswoman emphasized how the administration’s sweeping and indiscriminate actions—ranging from unlawful detentions and deportations to attacks on birthright citizenship—are creating widespread fear, even among legal immigrants. She cited the case of a legal Maryland resident who was mistakenly deported to a notoriously violent Salvadoran prison, with no apparent effort by federal authorities to rectify the situation.
The letter outlines how these tactics are weakening the trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement. It also notes that immigrants—often critical witnesses or victims—are increasingly afraid to report crimes due to fear of retaliation or deportation.
“ All Americans should ask themselves: If you were a victim and the only witness to the crime was an immigrant, would you want that person to call 911 and get help, come forward and testify for you in court, or keep silent out of fear?”
“Instead of intimidating and terrorizing immigrants, the Administration should follow the rule of law and allow local police to build trust within their communities,” she added.
Congresswoman Torres is calling on the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security to shift focus away from broad fear-based enforcement and instead support community trust-building strategies proven to enhance public safety.
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