The time has come for all of us to take a step back and look at what is happening here in our country. Innocent people are being killed, people with no criminal history or background. They are being rounded up like cattle and sent to holding facilities without an arrest warrant or due process for doing nothing more than expressing an opinion.
The Constitution says that every person has a right to due process, the freedom of speech and the freedom to express their opinions. But lately this freedom has been taken from us—whether you’re an American citizen, an immigrant who’s here legally, or someone who is here illegally doesn’t seem to make a difference. You can be picked up on the street for no reason, with no probable cause, and taken to a detention facility and shipped out of this country without a hearing or any due process.
Many Americans supported the Trump administration when he said he was going to remove illegal aliens who are dangerous criminals and felons, but this has gone far beyond those goals. People who are here legally or illegally—if they look different or have an accent or have a foreign background—can be detained with no due process or no probable cause. This has to stop! Innocent people are being killed by ICE and their excessive use of force.
We cannot tolerate this any longer. Please let your elected representatives, and other officials know that you do not support this. We must stop Donald Trump and his minions from desecrating our Constitution. Only then can we have a free and tolerant America!
John Hadley
Lompoc
This article appears in January 22 – January 29, 2026.