NEW YORK — A group of U.S. lawmakers is speaking out after hearing disturbing reports about the mistreatment of Asian Americans, including Filipinos, who were legally living in the United States but were still arrested and detained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
These lawmakers, members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), wrote a strong letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. They said they are worried because some of these people were allegedly denied basic rights — such as having a lawyer and getting fair treatment under the law.
🇵🇭 Filipino Victims Highlight the Issue
The letter mentioned real cases that shocked lawmakers:
-
Mrs. Lewelyn Dixon, a Filipino woman who has lived legally in the U.S. for 50 years, was suddenly detained.
-
Mr. Maximo Londonio, a Filipino-American and a member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, was held by ICE for two months after returning from a vacation in the Philippines.
⚖ The Law and Rights at Stake
The lawmakers stressed that these incidents may be violations of the U.S. Constitution. They explained:
-
The Fifth Amendment says the federal government cannot take away a person’s rights without due process.
-
The Sixth Amendment gives everyone accused of a crime the right to a lawyer.
These protections apply to all people in the U.S., whether they are citizens or lawful permanent residents (LPRs). The U.S. Supreme Court has also repeatedly confirmed this.
📜 What Lawmakers Want
The letter, signed by 14 lawmakers and led by New York Representative Grace Meng (Chair of CAPAC), is demanding:
-
An official explanation for why people in CBP custody were allegedly denied their rights.
-
The total number of U.S. citizens and LPRs detained since Donald Trump became president.
Lawmakers say these cases are not only about individual people — they raise serious questions about how the U.S. is treating lawful residents and whether the justice system is being followed.
