Chris M. Frésquez
Posted January 29, 2026
The role of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is to enforce immigration and customs law.
It is not to spread fear through neighborhoods.
It is not to strip people of dignity.
It is not to silence voices exercising their rights.
Nowhere in U.S. law does it give federal agents permission to shoot civilians—including immigrants who have entered the United States seeking asylum as refugees—routinely hide their identities or remove people simply for standing peacefully and speaking out.
That authority does not exist.
Because the power to enforce the law carries life-altering consequences, the limits on that power are clear and narrow. The use of force is strictly defined and tightly controlled. Deadly force is permitted only when there is an imminent threat to human life—such as an active attack with a weapon or an immediate risk of serious bodily harm. It does not mean fear, suspicion, disobedience, protest, or non-violent resistance. Anything beyond these narrow circumstances is not law enforcement; it is a violation of public trust.
Behind every policy and every enforcement action are real human beings, parents, children, elders—whose safety, dignity, and future are directly shaped by how power is exercised.
Because force is permitted only in the most extreme situations, its use must always be accompanied by clear accountability. Law enforcement authority depends on transparency and clear identification, particularly during public-facing actions where the power of the state is exercised in full view of the community. Identification is not a formality. It is a safeguard that allows people to distinguish lawful authority from coercion, enforcement from intimidation. In a democracy, accountability is not optional; it is the foundation of public trust and how power remains subject to the law rather than above it.
Accountability also requires respect for the rights of the people themselves. Peaceful protest is a constitutional right protected by the First Amendment. That amendment guarantees people the freedom to speak, to assemble peacefully, and to express disagreement with government actions without fear of punishment or retaliation. These protections exist so people can raise concerns, challenge authority, and make their voices heard in public spaces. Immigration enforcement does not override these rights, nor does it permit the erosion of due process. Lawful protest is not disorder, and dissent is not a crime—it is a cornerstone of a functioning democracy.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
This is about humanity.
This is about families.
This is about lives.
Behind every policy and every enforcement action are real human beings, parents, children, elders—whose safety, dignity, and future are directly shaped by how power is exercised.
This publication has always supported the rule of law.
We have also always understood that law, without restraint and accountability, becomes something else entirely.
This is not about politics.
It is about principle.
A nation governed by law does not require fear or secrecy.
It requires responsibility.
And when that line is crossed, it is our duty, especially as independent community media—to say so clearly.
If this article informed you, moved you, or gave you pause, we invite you to SUPPORT INDEPENDENT MEDIA and share it widely. We are on the front lines, and sustaining this work requires an engaged and committed community. Read more at ElSemanarioOnline.com or listen to our podcast WeSpeakYourLanguage.com.
Chris M. Frésquez, Publisher, The Weekly Issue El Semanario
