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Domestic Policy

Civil Liberties & Due Process

Emgage Action opposes unconstitutional surveillance, the criminalization of protest, and the erosion of civil liberties. We believe everyone, regardless of faith, background, or immigration status, deserves fair and impartial due process. We are committed to defending the rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

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Call to Action

No More Funding for ICE

We are in a political and social climate of insecurity we never thought we’d see, where federal agents can seemingly kill U.S. citizens in broad daylight, and the official explanations don’t match what millions have watched on video.

Two U.S. citizens, Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, and Renée Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident, were shot and killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis this month during immigration enforcement operations. Both deaths have been widely shared, with the U.S. government’s pro-ICE narrative almost universally disputed by the public.

Authoritarian enforcement tactics are rising and longstanding concerns about ICE and Customs and Border Protection’s use of force, racial profiling, and disregard for due process are now visible to the world. This begs the question, if constitutional rights can be denied where cameras are rolling, what has been happening in the shadows, in detention centers, and other enforcement operations?

TAKE ACTION:

Senate Democrats are now prepared to block a key Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill, which includes billions for ICE. Blocking this funding is one of the only options Congress currently has to stop further unchecked use of force. This fight isn’t just about money, it’s about ou democracy and if the government gets a pass to continue violating our constitutional rights.

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Dangers of Unchecked Constitutional Violations

Failure to address these constitutional violations sets a perilous precedent, threatening the integrity of democratic institutions.

  • Kilmar Abrego Garcia Case: A Maryland resident was mistakenly deported to El Salvador and imprisoned, despite a unanimous Supreme Court ruling ordering his return. 🔗
  • Venezuelan Deportations: Under the Alien Enemies Act, over 100 Venezuelans were deported without due process, despite the U.S. not being at war with Venezuela. 🔗
  • Fast-Track Deportations: The administration expanded fast-track deportations, bypassing fair legal processes and denying individuals the opportunity to contest their removal. 🔗
  • Suppression of Legal Representation: Efforts to intimidate law firms, defy and threaten judges, and defund children's attorneys aim to cut off immigrants' access to legal representation. 🔗
  • Use of Guantanamo Bay for Migrants: The administration's consideration of transferring migrants to Guantanamo Bay signals a troubling approach to immigration enforcement. 🔗

Eroding Constitutional Protections: Political Speech

The Trump administration has escalated efforts that undermine the First and Fourth Amendments, targeting political dissent, eroding due process protections, and suppressing protests—particularly for pro-Palestinian voices.

The administration has increasingly used immigration enforcement, police surveillance, and academic disciplinary measures to silence pro-Palestinian speech. Students, legal residents, and peaceful demonstrators have been detained, arrested, or targeted after engaging in campus protests or public advocacy. In several cases, local police shared protest-related information with federal agencies, leading to deportation proceedings or prolonged detentions.

These actions reflect a clear strategy to chill political expression and marginalize Muslim and Palestinian voices in particular. 🔗 🔗

Eroding Constitutional Protections: Arbitrary Detentions and Due Process

Activists and students have been detained without warrants, often denied timely hearings or access to legal counsel. Federal agents have appeared at immigration check-ins, naturalization interviews, and even student housing to detain individuals engaged in pro-Palestinian advocacy. These detentions are frequently retaliatory in nature, undermining the core due process protections guaranteed under the Constitution.

The use of immigration law as a tool to silence dissent represents a fundamental breach of both civil rights and the legal norms that protect political expression. 🔗

Eroding Constitutional Protections: Assembly

Protests calling for a ceasefire or expressing solidarity with Palestine have been met with disproportionate crackdowns on campuses and in public spaces across the country. Encampments have been forcibly cleared, demonstrators arrested en masse, and entire protest zones shut down under the guise of public safety.

This pattern of overreach, bolstered by executive pressure and police coordination, signals a dangerous precedent in which peaceful assembly is treated as a threat rather than a protected right. 🔗 🔗

Emgage's Policy Recommendations

OUR POLICY
PRIORITIES
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1. Legislative Oversight
Enact laws that reinforce checks and balances, ensuring executive actions are subject to judicial review and congressional oversight.
2. Protecting the Right to Assemble
Defend the right to peaceful assembly by opposing legislation that seeks to criminalize protests and by supporting measures that facilitate free expression.
3. Ensuring Due Process
Guarantee that all individuals, regardless of immigration status, have access to legal representation and fair hearings before any removal or detention actions.
4. Transparency in Enforcement
Mandate transparency in immigration enforcement actions, including clear communication of rights and legal procedures to affected individuals.
5. Opposing Misuse of Authority
Challenge the misuse of wartime laws, such as the Alien Enemies Act, to prevent their application in contexts that violate constitutional protections. 🔗

Emgage Action remains steadfast in its commitment to defending the civil liberties and due process rights of all individuals, advocating for policies that reflect the core values of justice and equality.

© Emgage Action 2026