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Dominic Carter
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Why Should ICE Agents Remain Masked?

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(New York, NY) – There’s an active debate on the ability of ICE agents to wear face coverings while on duty. This debate has prompted state, local and federal officials to all roll out efforts to ban the use of masks by authorities. At the national level, Democratic Senators announced a draft of legislation cracking down on the use of face coverings by federal ICE officers carrying out President Trump’s immigration agenda. New York and Massachusetts also announced state-wide measures forbidding agents from masking up within state borders. Meanwhile, Republicans maintain any face coverings or masks to help increase the safety of those law enforcement officers. 

Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) both introduced a bill requiring ICE officers to be easily identifiable while working in the field. This bill would bring ICE into the fold with the legal ID requirements already in place for standard law enforcement officers. There are some exceptions within the bill, like medical and environmental reasons. In the case you violate this bill, the legislation requires the Department of Homeland Security to work on disciplinary responses. The Democrat lawmakers say they were motivated in part by reports of people impersonating ICE agents. 

Federal Agents confront protestors that follow them back to the gate at Delaney Hall Detention Facility during a demonstration. Demonstrators gathered outside of the facility, where four detainees escaped after allegedly breaking through a wall, to voice opposition to increased raids against migrants. (Photo by Derek French / SOPA Images/Sipa USA)

In New York State, there is now a bill set to be introduced to the State Assembly and Senate called the “MELT Act”. The bill stands for “Mandating End of Lawless Tactics” and one of the sponsors, Assemblyman Tony Simone, said transparency is necessary on the government’s part. State Senator Patricia Fahy announced plans to bring it to the upper chamber in Albany. Fahy called masked agents “un-American” and went further saying it will inspire vigilantes to post as masked federal agents. Both versions of the bill have yet to be enumerated, so their path forward is not yet clear. However, Simone believes the bill will be easily enforced in the Empire State, despite debate over the Supremacy Clause in the Constitution which says federal law trumps state law. 

Tricia McLaughlin, DHS Spokeswoman, appeared on 77WABC’s Cats & Cosby, where she defended ICE agents who she says put their lives on the line:

Out on Long Island, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has responded to the ongoing debate with an official declaration that ICE officers and police are exempt from the county-wide mask ban. Nassau bars anyone from concealing their identity with a face covering for any reasons not medical or religious. It was the first law of its kind, it came in response to Pro-Palestinian demonstrations which took over college campuses. Blakeman said Nassau County has law enforcement’s backs. Nassau also signed an agreement back in February granting special deputy status to 10 detectives to help ICE in their detention and deportation push.

The debate comes as the DHS announced an 830% spike in assaults on officers. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, posted on X the new data should push all politicians to stand allied with ICE officers. Noem called out California Governor Gavin Newsom, who’s been a vocal critic of the administration and mass deportation efforts from the White House. Officials in the administration maintain officers face personal threats for their job, and masking can help officers remain anonymous. The DHS also defended themselves against claims of ICE detaining children by pointing out ICE asks permission from detained mothers if they want to be removed from the country with or without their children. 

President Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, was on 77WABC’s Cats & Cosby, said there will be zero tolerance for any attacks on ICE agents:

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