Elected officials need to put the heat on ICE | Letter
Portland resident urges tighter congressional oversight of ICE
A letter written by Portland resident Robert Goldberg and published in the Press Herald has drawn fresh attention to the federal agency responsible for enforcing U.S. immigration laws. In the piece, Goldberg argues that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are not adequately vetted, use excessive force, and are shielded from prosecution when they err. He calls on elected officials to take a more active role in supervising the agency.
Goldberg’s letter opens by questioning the role of elected representatives in funding ICE. “They fund ICE,” he writes, “not the kind we put in our drinks or that covers our lakes and streams in the winter, but the kind they give guns to, the people who shouldn’t be allowed to have slingshots.” He goes on to describe ICE agents as “thugs,” claiming that they “have the freedom to maim and kill people for no good reason.”
The letter frames its concerns around three recurring themes. First, Goldberg stresses the lack of thorough screening for ICE personnel. Second, he points to incidents in which ICE agents have used lethal force, including “several times they have gone after and killed the wrong people.” He questions why the agency is permitted to “shoot to kill” and why officials believe they enjoy immunity from prosecution. Finally, Goldberg reminds readers of the essential role that immigrants play in the U.S. economy, noting that “our country is made up of immigrants. We cannot do without them to run our factories and serve as caregivers, doctors, nurses, engineers, etc.”
A notable portion of the letter quotes the opening lines of “The New Colossus,” the poem that adorns the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal. Goldberg writes, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…” and urges that the nation’s founders “lift my lamp beside the golden door.” He uses the excerpt to underscore the contradiction he sees between America’s immigrant-friendly ideals and the actions of ICE.
Goldberg ends his letter by calling on elected officials to “oversee ICE” and “exercise more control over its agents.” He frames this as a way to reconcile the nation’s heritage of welcoming refugees with the reality of modern enforcement practices.
The letter reflects broader concerns that have surfaced over the past several years about ICE’s use of force and accountability. In recent years, there have been a number of high‑profile incidents in which ICE agents were accused of using excessive or deadly force, sparking protests and calls for policy reform. The agency, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, is funded annually through congressional appropriations and is responsible for a wide range of immigration enforcement duties, from detaining migrants to conducting raids on homes and businesses.
While some lawmakers have proposed new oversight measures, others have defended the agency’s operations as essential to national security. Goldberg’s letter adds a local voice to the debate, underscoring that concerns about ICE’s conduct are not limited to Washington, D.C., but are also felt across Maine’s communities.
The Press Herald has published the letter under the “letter to the editor” section. Its appearance in the paper has sparked responses from both supporters of increased oversight and those who view the agency’s current structure as necessary. As lawmakers weigh new proposals for reform, the debate over ICE’s accountability is likely to continue to occupy both the national conversation and local discussions in Portland and beyond.
