Rep. Jared Golden recently sent the following statement to Maine Public regarding his support for expanded ICE operations in Maine: “So long as this remains a targeted law enforcement operation focused on individuals who have engaged in criminal activities, then I believe it legitimately serves the public interest.”

In short, Rep. Golden supports ICE as long as it “remains” something it is not, and has never been, under Donald Trump.

What does “focus” on criminality mean when ICE and CBP agents are broadly violent toward bystanders, observers and protesters, and run roughshod over the Fourth Amendment of our Constitution? When they commit murder on the streets, and terrible abuse (even homicide, per one coroner in El Paso) in detention centers? When these agencies have deeply misguided oversight, and no willingness to cooperate with our state government? How can an agency focus on criminals if its agents don’t use due process to find and arrest them?

My wife and I are raising our family in Lewiston. I pray that my daughter doesn’t grow up in a city where masked federal agents break car windows, force their way into homes without warrants, disappear people from the streets and stalk children at school.

Perhaps Rep. Golden is hoping ICE and CBP will behave differently in Maine than they have elsewhere — that they will become and “remain” lawful. When Rep. Golden voted to fund these agencies, he gave them his support as they are now, and ceded any chance to hold them accountable.

Stephen Burger
Lewiston