WASHINGTON (TIP): In a letter, led by Indian American Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) along with Ruben Kihuen (NV-04) members of Congress are demanding that the Trump administration terminate efforts to surveil and collect social media data on immigrants and American citizens.

A new proposal, set to go in effect on October 18, would impact immigrants, as well as all lawful permanent residents and naturalized American citizens including members of Congress like Jayapal, Kihuen, and Krishnamoorthi who were born outside the United States.

“Simply put, this proposal is un-American. It flies in the face of freedom of speech, due process, and freedom of association, all of which are cherished founding values that are meant to protect personal privacy and encourage discourse and dissent in a free society,” wrote the representatives.

Last month, the Department of Homeland Security published a new rule in the Federal Register that calls for including “social media handles and aliases, associated identifiable information and search results” in the department’s immigration files, also known as the “A-Files.”

In the letter signed by nine members of Congress, the representatives said, “This proposal runs counter to American values. The collection of social media data in a dragnet as proposed is unwise and has not been proven effective, particularly when American citizens become targets. We urge you to retract the Federal Register notice immediately.”

The letter led by Reps. Pramila Jayapal, Ruben Kihuen and Raja Krishnamoorthi is signed by Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Luis Gutiérrez (IL-04), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Raul Grijalva (AZ-03), Albio Sires (NJ-08), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Keith Ellison (MN-05), Grace Meng (NY-06), Norma Torres (CA-35), and Nanette Barragán (CA-44).