The founders of our country knew tyranny. British soldiers occupied towns, enforced a distant ruler’s will, and used violence to crush dissent. That experience shaped a Constitution built to restrain power: three coequal branches, civilian control, due process, limits on unreasonable searches and seizures, and freedoms to speak, assemble, worship, bear arms, and protest injustice.
In Minneapolis, those safeguards are collapsing under the current regime. We see masked armed forces assaulting families in the streets. Homes invaded without judicial warrants. Children kidnapped. Legal observers threatened and killed. People, including children, with citizenship or lawful status abducted and shipped to distant detention centers, then dumped without a way home.
The killings of Alex Pretti and Rene Good, seen by millions, have sparked national rage because they were caught on camera. Other cases drew far less attention but are just as disturbing: immigrants shot while sitting in a parked car in Oregon, a detainee’s death later ruled a homicide after ICE labeled it a “suspected suicide,” and people dying in custody after delayed or denied medical care.
The lawlessness of ICE runs deep. It violated 100 court orders in January alone. As one judge put it, that’s more than “some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence.”
Why has the Republican regime adopted brutal, criminal tactics? Part of the answer points to Trump advisor Stephen Miller, long reported to hold white supremacist beliefs. Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees ICE, has said she is following directives from Miller and Trump.
The regime also uses terror to pursue other aims. Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote to Governor Tim Walz that ICE would pull out if Minnesota turned over personal voter data to the Department of Justice. This goes beyond federal overreach. It’s bullying.
Officials at the highest levels have lied about what the videos show and refused to cooperate with local investigators. A handful of Republicans are acknowledging the truth. Senator Rand Paul said no one watching the video could believe the regime’s claim that Pretti assaulted law enforcement. A Minnesota gubernatorial candidate left the Republican Party rather than defend the indefensible.
Where are Idaho’s Republican leaders? Disgracefully silent. Idahoans value freedom and the rule of law. Those values mean nothing if our leaders look away while federal agents violate court orders, terrorize civilians, kidnap children, and kill with impunity.
In the immediate term, we must stop funding ICE’s atrocities. Customs and Border Patrol agents must return to monitoring our border, not occupying American cities. Victims of federal violence and criminal kidnappings must see justice and accountability.
Freedom survives only if people defend it. The brave among us already are. Now our leaders must decide whether to stand with the people or enable tyranny.
Onward,
Lauren Necochea
Idaho Democratic Party Chair