Editor, Gazette-Journal:
On May 22, 2024, the House of Representatives voted (215 to 214) to pass H.R.1, which among other things increased the funding of Immigration Control Enforcement from approximately $8 billion per year by adding $29.9 billion to their budget and $45 billion for new detention centers. Was Rob Wittman’s vote the deciding one? It appears it could have been. Then recently, he voted for another $10 billion.
Are Rob Wittman’s votes supercharging ICE?
Recently, ICE broke down an old man’s door, put a gun to his daughter-in-law’s head, and cruelly dragged him out in his underwear in minus 9 degree weather. He is a naturalized citizen!
There were 32 deaths in ICE detention in 2025. These deaths occurred as ICE ramped up its immigration operations, detaining a record number of people in December. The agency was holding 68,440 people in detention in mid-December; nearly 75 percent of them had no criminal convictions. December was also the deadliest month in ICE custody—seven people died.
ICE killings in 2026 have been Alex Pretti, Renee Good, Keith Porter, Heber Sanchez Domingez, Victor Manual Diaz, Parady La, Luis Beltran Yanez-Cruz, Luis Gestavo Nunez Caceres, and Geraldo Lunas Campos. Mr. Campos was choked so hard in ICE custody that his blood vessels burst in his eyelids. His death was ruled a homicide. Some of the others are under investigation and may be determined to be homicides as well. VA ICU Nurse Alex Pretti was shot 10+ plus times after he had been disarmed of his holstered, lawfully carried firearm.
ICE has teargassed a car full of children, almost killing an infant. ICE blinded a minor for life with pepper spray. ICE is detaining children in horrible conditions.
Are you good with all that, Rob Wittman?
The public face of Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a brutal, paramilitary force of masked men who hunt immigrants, not just the “the worst of the worst,” but all, and terrorize law abiding American people.
Rob Wittman, you have said nothing about this. Are your votes and silence enabling ICE against the American people?
Jim Knupp
Hartfield, Va.