To the editor:

My fellow citizens:

I say “Citizens” because I fear we are quickly becoming “Subjects.”

The Trump administration is carrying out an illegal and unconstitutional military occupation of the state of Minnesota. The madness and murder that is happening there could easily be coming to New York!

If you watch certain right-leaning news sources who are promoting a false narrative, you may not even know what is really happening. Trump wants us to be distracted from his involvement with Jeffrey Epstein as well as his chronic corruption and policies that are wreaking havoc on our economy and health care. He seems to be trying to provoke a reaction that will justify invoking the Insurrection Act, and prevent or scare people from voting in this year’s midterm elections.

Donald Trump, Stephen Miller, Kristi Noem and Greg Bovino bear the greatest responsibility for creating this mission and directing ICE to engage in their reign of terror. ICE and CBP agents are responsible for their brutality and violation of rights and, like any other federal agents, are liable for carrying out illegal orders.

The Republican Party are their enablers. They roll over as Trump breaks law after law and abuses his office for power and financial gain. Republicans have blocked every Democratic effort to hold him accountable. Constitutional rights apply to everyone in the United States, whether they are citizens, legal immigrants, those in the process of seeking asylum or legal status, visitors and even undocumented immigrants.

Republicans in Congress could stop this madness. They took an oath to protect the Constitution. The actions of the Trump administration violate the most sacred promise of our Constitution. Instead, they add fuel to the fire or look the other way as the President and his staff empower crimes on an almost daily basis.

What can we do?

¯ Talk to your fellow citizens. Focus on reaching those who do not normally follow politics or limit their information to only one news source. Voters need to know that only “We the People” can peacefully stand against cruelty and mayhem and defend our rights and freedoms that this administration wants to take away.

¯ Call your elected representatives and let them know you oppose ICE’s reign of terror.

¯ Join with others who are peacefully standing for democracy and the Constitution. Protests and rallies may seem unproductive, but it is one of the few ways to get the attention of those who don’t normally follow the news.

Let us continue to be citizens rather than relinquishing our rights to become subjects to a King.

John Bailey

Hamilton