To the Members of Congress, Senator Marco Rubio, Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar, and President Donald J. Trump:

I am writing to you with deep respect, but also with tremendous concern and frustration.

My family, like many other families and friends, voted for you with the hope of helping build a safer, more prosperous country—one that would truly be great again. We trusted your promises and your commitment to enforcing the law, especially when we were assured that the primary goal would be to remove true criminals and dangerous individuals from the country.

However, over the past year, I have personally witnessed people close to me being detained by ICE. And I am not talking about thieves, murderers, fraudsters, or individuals who pose a danger to our society. I am talking about hardworking, honest, and decent people—many of whom have pending immigration cases—who have fulfilled their obligations, paid substantial amounts of money for their legal processes, and built their lives in this country.

These are people who own homes, businesses, and vehicles, who have jobs and established families. Since arriving in the United States, they have worked hard to build better lives and contribute to this nation. They do not depend on public benefits or represent a burden to the country. They are simply waiting for their immigration cases to be resolved.

So I ask: At what point did the promise to pursue criminals become a policy that also targets hardworking and honest people who have pending immigration cases?

We feel disappointed and, frankly, deceived. Many of us placed our votes and our trust in you because we understood that your priorities would be security, justice, and the protection of American families.

We understand that immigration laws must be followed. We are not asking for the laws to be ignored. What we are asking for is justice, proportionality, and humanity. People who have no criminal records and are complying with their immigration proceedings should not be treated the same way as those who truly pose a threat to our communities.

As an American citizen for many years, I am deeply concerned to see entire families living in fear and anxiety over the possibility that a father, mother, or hardworking family member could be separated from them, even when that person has not committed a crime.

This must change.

We cannot allow abuse of power and a lack of judgment to destroy the families, businesses, and lives of people who have worked for years to build this country.

I ask you to listen to those who also placed their trust in you. Listen to hardworking families. Listen to American citizens who have relatives and friends affected by these policies.

Because if these measures continue to indiscriminately affect honest and hardworking people, you yourselves will ultimately pay the political price for losing the trust of those who helped put you in power.

We want a safe country. We want our laws to be respected. We want criminals to be prosecuted and our nation to be protected.

But we also want justice, common sense, and respect for the fundamental rights of people who are complying with their legal proceedings.

I am tired of witnessing so much suffering and feeling that no one is listening.

Please do something. Review these policies and establish a clear distinction between those who pose a genuine danger to our society and those who are simply waiting for a decision on their immigration status while working, supporting their families, and contributing to this great country.

The United States can be safe and strong without ceasing to be just.

Sincerely,
An American citizen who still believes in this country and in justice.

Marisol Varela