First, a short history lesson. In 1603, the King’s Bench defended the right of a person to refuse a warrantless search even by the King’s agents. This ideal of “every man’s home is his castle” continued to be part of the common law framework, enshrined in the Fourth Amendment because of searches and seizures in the colonies.
In repressive regimes throughout history, agents of a government had no qualms about breaking into houses to search our possible opposition. Now, ICE agents claim they have the right to enter a house, even with a battering ram without a judicial warrant. In a memo dated May 12, 2025, ICE states that no judicial warrant is needed to break into a home, any home in search of “illegals.”
Welcome to the new world of losing Constitutional protections. ICE agents are now emboldened to break car windows, grab US citizens and hold them based on a suspicion that they are “illegal.” We need to ask who’s next.
Prayer for the Day
Confusion and uncertainty bring temptations, O God,
To hold fast to intolerant thoughts and beliefs;
The world spins about us so quickly, O Lord,
That we cannot hold onto an anchor in the sea.
Enlarge our vision and broaden our perspective
So that we are able to live in a diverse world.
In the name of the One who is fearless,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
Every American should be terrified by this secret ICE policy authorizing its agents to kick down your door and storm into your home. It is a legally and morally abhorrent policy that exemplifies the kinds of dangerous, disgraceful abuses America is seeing in real time.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn)
I profoundly disagree with the legal interpretation of the Constitution and laws related to administrative warrants in this memo and believe ICE is undermining our constitutional order in their zeal to meet a quota.
Kerry Doyle, ICE legal counsel (2021-2025)
I say to God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I walk about mournfully because the enemy oppresses me?”
As with a deadly wound in my body, my adversaries taunt me,
While they say to me continually, “Where is your God?”
Psalm 42: 9-10
ICE used a battering ram to break into this old man’s home, put a gun to the head of his daughter-in-law as they dragged him out in 9-degree weather in his underwear, only to find out he was a naturalized US citizen