Friend,

I’ve been thinking a great deal about the recent actions by federal immigration authorities in Minnesota.

When people are taken from their homes and communities without transparency or accountability, when fear is used as a governing tool, and when basic rights are treated as optional, democracy itself is being tested. These are not abstract concerns. They are the real-world consequences of democratic institutions being eroded and authoritarianism taking hold — and we are seeing them play out with devastating impact in Minnesota and beyond. These are not isolated incidents, but part of a broader pattern we see here at home and around the world.

I wanted to share my new annual letter with you because it reflects this larger reality. As I wrote, democracy is under real pressure. Authoritarian forces are on the rise, rights are being rolled back, and institutions we rely on are being deliberately undermined. Too often this is described as “democratic backsliding,” but what we are seeing is far more intentional than that. The rule of law isn’t simply slipping — it’s being purposefully weakened.

READ THE LETTER

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And yet, even in moments like this, there are sparks of hope. I’ve seen civil society step up when governments falter. I’ve seen communities protect their neighbors, advocates defend fundamental rights, and organizations — including many in the Clinton Foundation and Clinton Global Initiative community — do the hard work of putting people first. These efforts are a reminder that democracy, while fragile, is far from lost.

This reflection is about holding both truths at once: being clear-eyed about the threats we face, while recognizing that progress has always depended on people willing to organize, participate, and act.

Democracy does not survive on its own. It endures because people insist on defending it — in their communities, in the courts, at the ballot box, and through everyday acts of courage and care.

I’m grateful to be part of a community that responds to moments like this, not with resignation, but with resolve. Thank you for all the ways you show up — by staying engaged, by standing up for others, and by helping build a future rooted in dignity, opportunity, and shared responsibility.

With appreciation,

Hillary Rodham Clinton

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