| WASHINGTON – After 14 elected officials were arrested in New York while seeking to inspect conditions in immigrant holding cells that a federal court has already deemed unsafe, the Not Above the Law coalition co-chairs condemned theTrump administration’s clear attempt to block oversight. The arrests are part of a broader pattern of the Trump administration targeting officials for conducting routine oversight, and silencing those who they disagree with. The Not Above the Law coalition’s co-chairs – Lisa Gilbert, Co-President of Public Citizen; Praveen Fernandes, Vice President of the Constitutional Accountability Center; Kelsey Herbert, Campaign Director at MoveOn; and Brett Edkins, Managing Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Stand Up America – issued the below response: “What we saw yesterday is not an isolated incident – it is part of a disturbing pattern of the Trump administration weaponizing federal law enforcement against oversight and accountability. Fourteen elected officials were arrested for trying to do their jobs: ensuring compliance with a federal court order to improve unsafe and overcrowded immigrant holding conditions. That is not criminal behavior – that is public service. “When federal officers are directed to detain or arrest elected officials for exercising oversight, it sends a chilling message that those in power will punish anyone who dares to shine a light on abuse or neglect. This weaponization of law enforcement doesn’t just endanger those in detention, it threatens everyone’s rights and freedoms. “Oversight is not optional, and it is not a crime. It is how we hold our government accountable to the people it serves.” |
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