Congressman Vicente Gonzalez Introduces Bill to End Warrantless Immigration Raids

Contact: Alexis Torres

Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) introduced the Say No to Warrantless Searches Act to codify Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. In South Texas, Minnesota, and other parts of the country, Federal law enforcement officers have disregarded the Constitution by forcibly entering homes with an administrative warrant or without a signed judicial warrant and arresting individuals, including American citizens.  

“Warrantless immigration raids on private properties are setting a dangerous, unconstitutional precedent in this country—not just for immigrant families, but for every American family,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “Codifying the Fourth Amendment gives power back to the people and disallows the current President, or future Administrations, from undermining the values this nation was founded on. I refuse to let South Texans live in fear because rogue immigration operations are indiscriminately targeting our communities. Congress must immediately pass my bill and begin restoring our role as a check on the Executive branch.” 

Notably in the Rio Grande Valley, a family in Donna, Texas, filed a lawsuit last month against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after Federal officers unconstitutionally jumped over their fence, entered the home, and arrested two parents in the process of obtaining lawful status to live and work permanently in the United States. 

Under this bill, Federal law enforcement officers engaging in immigration enforcement activity cannot conduct a search of private property without obtaining a judicial warrant. While the Fourth Amendment already offers these protections, they are being circumvented by this Administration because it is not statutory law and therefore interpreted by Supreme Court case law. According to an internal ICE memo, DHS has deliberately disregarded the Constitution and reversed longstanding policy by permitting Federal officers to enter homes without authorization. 

The full bill text can be found here.