A recent story in The Orange County Register really upset me. The lede:

A father was briefly detained by federal immigration agents Tuesday morning, Aug. 19, after dropping off his child at a Garden Grove elementary school, district officials confirmed.

The incident happened at about 7:50 a.m., before school started, when families alerted staff that a group of masked, unidentified individuals in unmarked cars had surrounded a man on the corner near campus. The man, who had just dropped off his child, was handcuffed and taken away in one of the vehicles, Garden Grove Unified spokesperson Abby Broyles said Wednesday morning.

“This incident understandably caused fear and confusion among the many students and families who witnessed this terrifying event,” Broyles said.

Broyles said the father returned to school later that day and told district officials he had been held inside an ICE vehicle parked at a lot near the school and released within the hour after showing documentation and confirming his identity. He asked that details not be shared to protect his family and the wider school community, Broyles said.

Following safety protocols, the school went into a “Secure Building” alert—a precaution used when immigration enforcement is occurring near campus with the potential to impact students, she said. During this alert, students and staff go indoors, doors are locked and classes continue.

The specifics of this story are deeply troubling—as is the fact that we’ve heard numerous stories about similar incidents happening all across Southern California.

Why was this man stopped and detained? He had just taken his kid to school. Was it racial profiling? How is it that agents—masked, in unmarked vehicles, and unidentified—are plucking people off of the streets in the United States of America? Was the fear and confusion this caused the students and families at the school necessary?

Can you imagine how the detainee’s child felt, knowing their father had been detained?

Many of the people in President Donald Trump’s administration like to wax poetic about the United States Constitution, and the Bible. Let’s look at several passages from these two works.

The Fifth Amendment of the Constitution: “No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” (Emphasis mine.)

The 14th Amendment of the Constitution: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. (Emphasis mine.)

Luke 10: 30-37, as Jesus responds to the question, “Who is my neighbor?”: “Then Jesus answered and said: ‘A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, “Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.” So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?’ And he said, ‘He who showed mercy on him.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’”

The people responsible for these actions aren’t following the Constitution. They’re not being Christians. They’re just being cruel.

Note: This is a slightly edited version of the editor’s note that appeared in the September 2025 print edition. Much of this was originally published online in the Aug. 21 Indy Digest.

A Note From the Editor: MAGA Folks Need to Re-Read the Bible and the Constitution is a story from Coachella Valley Independent, the Coachella Valley’s alternative news source.