Breaking: statement against the inhumane, unconstitutional, and draconian actions being committed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

El Paso, Texas —  The Stonewall Democrats of El Paso stand firmly against the inhumane, unconstitutional, and draconian actions being committed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) against people who are coming to America seeking hope, protection, and a brighter future.

These actions are a disgrace to our shared values and a betrayal of the principles of justice, equity, and compassion that should define our nation.

We are witnessing an alarming trend: expedited deportations, forced case dismissals, and the revival of extremist anti-immigrant policies driven by individuals like Stephen Miller.

These actions are not only cruel—they are illegal, unethical, and un-American.

ICE isn’t just violating policy—it’s violating people. And while they continue to melt away human rights and due process, we must raise our voices and fight back.

Immigrants are not a burden—they are human beings. They are parents, workers, caretakers, students, neighbors. They deserve to be seen, respected, and protected, not demonized or dehumanized by politicians hungry for power.

In El Paso and other border communities, we know this in our bones. Our identity is built on migration, compassion, and resilience. We don’t just live near the border—we are the border. And we will not turn our backs on those seeking safety and dignity.

Donald Trump’s so-called promises were rooted in lies and division. Under his leadership and Stephen Miller’s influence, cruelty was rebranded as policy. From family separations to mass raids and rushed deportations, their agenda has dimmed the light of Reagan’s “shining city on a hill.”

That light grows weaker with every act of xenophobia, militarization, and state-sponsored fear—but we still believe it can shine again, if we fight for it.

💡 The facts speak for themselves:

    •    Immigrants contribute nearly $2 trillion to the U.S. economy each year.

    •    They pay over $525 billion in taxes—including $11.7 billion annually from undocumented immigrants.

    •    Nearly 45% of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children.

    •    1 in 4 doctors, millions of essential workers, and over 44% of PhD-level STEM workers are foreign-born.

    •    Immigrant families strengthen our economy, support Social Security, and pay billions in property taxes that fund schools and services they are often denied.

📢 America is nothing without immigrants.

✊🏽 We Demand:

🔍 A full Congressional investigation into ICE, including:

    •    A complete audit of funds spent on surveillance, detention, and abuse.

    •    An end to profiteering off human suffering through private detention centers and unjust deportation quotas.

🧾 That Stephen Miller be called before Congress to answer for his central role in engineering and promoting policies that inflicted irreparable harm on immigrant families.

🛠️ The passage of real, comprehensive, and humane immigration reform—not half-measures, not band-aids, and not more fear-based policies.

🧨 That Democratic leaders stop falling into Trump’s traps. We win by standing for human rights, not by chasing right-wing narratives. We must lead with courage, truth, and values that affirm every person’s dignity and worth.

🛑 An immediate end to the militarization of border communities and peaceful protests.

The deployment of National Guard troops and militarized police against families, aid workers, and protestors is a violation of civil liberties and must be condemned.

If the Democratic Party is going to be the opposition, then it must act like one. This is not a time for silence. This is not a time for political calculation.

🗣️ Working-class families, immigrant communities, and the people of El Paso are watching.

And we will remember who showed up—and who didn’t.

We are a border city. We know the cost of cruelty.But we also know the strength of compassion, the power of belonging, and the promise of a country that can still live up to its ideals—if we choose to fight for them.

A message from CD-23 Texas Democratic Committeeman and Stonewall Democrats of El Paso President Wesley Lawrence:

“In communities like El Paso, ICE continues to melt away human rights, ignore due process, and criminalize people seeking refuge. Families are being torn apart in broad daylight. This is not justice—it’s cruelty in uniform.

Donald Trump made false promises to immigrants—promises of fairness, opportunity, and order. But his legacy is one of cages, raids, and militarized fear. His America turned its back on the very values it claims to defend.

Ronald Reagan once called this nation a “shining city on a hill.” But under Trump’s reign and the silence of complicit leaders, that light has dimmed into darkness.

The facts speak for themselves:

America is nothing without immigration.

Immigrants power our economy, strengthen our communities, and breathe life into the promise of this nation. Without them, we are not America.

If we, as Democrats, claim to be the opposition party—then we must act like it.

We must stand boldly, speak clearly, and fight relentlessly. Working-class families are watching. Immigrant communities are waiting. We cannot afford hesitation or political calculation when lives, dignity, and democracy are on the line.

We must rise, not just in resistance—but in responsibility. The time for quiet complicity is over!”

About Stonewall Democrats of El Paso

Stonewall Democrats of El Paso is a chapter of the Texas Stonewall Democratic Caucus, committed to electing pro-equality candidates, advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights, and building inclusive power in West Texas and beyond. You can learn more about us at https://www.stonewalldemsep.com