Hirono, Schatz, Tokuda Condemn DHS’ Aggressive Immigration Enforcement in Hawaii Communities

~ Lawmakers also demand monthly briefings from DHS and clarifications regarding agency policies and procedures for immigration enforcement ~

WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) led U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (D-HI) in sending a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem condemning the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) aggressive immigration enforcement actions in Hawaii. In the letter, the lawmakers also demand that the agency provide clarifications on its policies and procedures for immigration enforcement, as well as monthly briefings to each of the offices.

“Rather than making us safer or more secure, your needlessly aggressive immigration enforcement has created chaos and confusion in our communities while raising due process concerns,” wrote the lawmakers. “Our offices have heard from hundreds of constituents. They are concerned about your efforts to sweep up children, workers, and longtime members of our community with little apparent regard for their criminal history or lack thereof.”

In their letter, the lawmakers also list multiple examples of incidents across the state where DHS created chaos and confusion through its aggressive enforcement actions, including Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following coffee farm workers home from work and loitering in areas frequented by these workers, as well as detaining Maui teachers at gunpoint.  

“These actions damage our constituents and communities, erode public trust in DHS, and do not accomplish anything other than creating fear and terrorizing communities,” continued the lawmakers. “If this is your goal, you should explicitly say so. Otherwise, DHS must demonstrate its respect for Hawaii’s citizens and communities.”

The full text of the letter is available here and below.

Dear Secretary Noem:

We write regarding the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) immigration enforcement actions in Hawaii and its effects on our constituents. Rather than making us safer or more secure, your needlessly aggressive immigration enforcement has created chaos and confusion in our communities while raising due process concerns. Our offices have heard from hundreds of constituents. They are concerned about your efforts to sweep up children, workers, and longtime members of our community with little apparent regard for their criminal history or lack thereof. This approach is exacerbated by DHS’ public statements insisting that all noncitizens being detained pose a threat, and implying that immigrants are harming American citizens. We request that DHS contemplate different approaches to carrying out its duties in a way that prevents further erosion of trust between Hawaii’s citizens and DHS. 

Since the new administration took office, we have seen, read, and been contacted about multiple incidents that clearly demonstrate the concerns raised. Some particularly egregious examples include the following:

• Customs and Border Protection (officers interrogated the wife of an active duty military member upon her arrival to the U.S. She was denied entry, sent to a detention center where she was strip searched and subjected to a cavity search, and prohibited from contacting friends and family before being deported.
• Homeland Security Investigations agents attempted to gain access to farms, followed workers home from work, and loitered in areas frequented by workers. During the first Trump administration, similar actions damaged our vital industries and chilled activity by those fearful of being targets. We have already heard disturbing reports from coffee farmers, particularly smaller coffee farms, warning that these actions will result in their crops not being harvested.
• DHS traumatized ten teachers on Maui—one a U.S. citizen and the rest here legally—by detaining them at gunpoint without giving them an opportunity to explain themselves or even fully dress themselves.
• DHS detained a father resulting in no caregiving being available to care for his elementary school-aged child. As a result, a school resource officer had to remove the minor from school at Konawaena Elementary.

These actions damage our constituents and communities, erode public trust in DHS, and do not accomplish anything other than creating fear and terrorizing communities. If this is your goal, you should explicitly say so. Otherwise, DHS must demonstrate its respect for Hawaii’s citizens and communities.

To better understand the policies and procedures that DHS undertakes for immigration enforcement actions, we ask that you provide the following information no later than July 22, 2025:

1. Policies requiring officers to clearly identify themselves when conducting immigration enforcement actions. What steps does DHS undertake to prevent impersonations?

2. Policies regarding after action read outs.

3. Steps taken to avoiding enforcement actions in sensitive locations absent exigent circumstances.

4. Efforts to work with childcare experts to create trauma-informed protocols for handling child welfare checks and other interactions with minors.

We also request that you begin to provide monthly briefings to our staffs. If you or members of your staff have any questions about this request, please do not hesitate to contact our staffs.

Sincerely,

###