facebook-pixel

Letter: It is reasonable to think the worst and resist when agents claiming the right to arrest you are not wearing uniforms

(Todd Heisler | The New York Times) An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent makes an arrest in Miami on May 28, 2025.

(Todd Heisler | The New York Times) An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent makes an arrest in Miami on May 28, 2025.

Arrests by groups of ICE agents in plain clothes is a problem. Law enforcement officers should be in uniform when making an arrest, so the person arrested would know they are part of a legal system that has due process. That person would know that the case can be brought before a judge for determination of guilt.

Arrests by plain-clothes officers, even if they show a badge, is not good enough because in order to see that the badge is real a person would have to be close enough to be grabbed.

Unless a person can tell they are being arrested by a legitimate authority they could reasonably assume they are being kidnapped and are within their rights to resist.

Dave Powelson, Logan

Submit a letter to the editor

Support free news for Utah

sltrib.com is now free to access — no subscription required. We made this decision because we believe access to trustworthy, independent news shouldn’t depend on what you can afford — especially as misinformation and AI-generated content continue to rise.

Free to read doesn’t mean free to produce. Our reporters show up every day to ask hard questions and hold powerful institutions to account. That work takes resources. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on support from people who believe it matters. Make a donation today to fund local news that serves Utah communities.

You can help us bring more local news to more communities today.