NAACP Joins Civil Rights Groups in Letter Urging Congress to Check ICE Abuses and Uphold the Constitution

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 15, 2026
Contact: Chyna Fields, [email protected]

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WASHINGTON - The NAACP has joined UnidosUS and other faith, civil rights, and advocacy organizations in urging Congress to take immediate action to check and hold accountable Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) amid a growing pattern of violence, racial profiling, and constitutional violations.

The letter follows the killing of U.S. citizens Keith Porter Jr. and Renee Nicole Good by ICE agents, and the 32 people who died in ICE custody. These documented incidents of abuse by ICE agents raise urgent questions about unchecked use of force, lack of transparency, and the erosion of due process in immigration enforcement.

During a press conference organized by UnidosUS today, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson condemned the ongoing abuses and called for congressional action:

"America can never be truly great if it only belongs to one race or one community. Our democracy is undergoing a stress test, and instead of learning from history, we are repeating it through racial hatred and the targeting of people who are treated as 'other.'

"When individuals are pulled aside, questioned, or detained simply because they speak a different language or don't look like those in power, that is racial profiling, and it is a direct violation of our Constitution.

"We have no kings in this country - no one is above the law, and due process and equal protection must apply to every person who sets foot on this land. If Black, Latino, Asian American, and all our communities do not stand together now, we risk losing the very idea of America.

"That is why we are calling on Congress and the federal courts to do their jobs and uphold the Constitution so that equal justice under law is a lived reality for everyone."

The coalition's letter warns Congress against granting DHS a "blank check" in FY2026 appropriations, citing record-high deaths in custody, wrongful detention of U.S. citizens, lack of transparency, expansion of dragnet surveillance, and the misuse of military resources in civilian immigration enforcement.

In the joint letter, 74 national, state, and local organizations call on Congress to enact enforceable guardrails that protect constitutional rights, including prohibiting warrantless arrests, banning masked federal agents, restoring due process protections, restricting surveillance abuses, ensuring accountability for deaths and wrongful detentions, and ending the use of military forces in immigration enforcement.

The full letter is available here.

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About the NAACP

The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America. Our legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st century activists. From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination. That work is rooted in racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.

NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund - also referred to as the NAACP-LDF - was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but now operates as a completely separate entity.