More Americans carrying US passports out of fear of ICE. What to consider
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“This basically just opens the door for people who look Latino or sound Latino” to be targeted, said Wendy Cervantes, director for immigration and immigrant families at the Center for Law and Social Policy, an advocacy group. “I think it’s predominantly Latino immigrants, but we know this has also been impacting Asian and Black immigrant communities. It’s a reason to be scared to leave your house now.”
Unlike some countries, U.S. citizens are not legally required to carry proof of citizenship. The United States also has long been a country that deeply values personal freedoms and civil liberties, and where the Fourth Amendment is supposed to protect people from unlawful searches and seizures by the government, Cervantes noted.
A growing segment of the U.S. population now feels compelled to carry documents, Cervantes said.
“And I think it’s important to recognize that what’s probably even more dangerous in this scenario is that not only is ICE being given basically free rein to racial profile but they’re also able to do this with unprecedented levels of funding,” Cervantes said, referring to $70 billion in additional funding the agency received under the 2025 Big Beautiful Bill.
Note: This article was reprinted in multiple media outlets nationwide.
