(The Center Square) – Pennsylvania on Friday became the latest state to consider legislation that would unmask agents from U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Joining state lawmakers from California, New York, Massachusetts, and Tennessee, the “Unmask ICE” effort is a reaction to officers concealing their identities to evade public attacks and retaliation for the agency’s operations, which have led to widespread fear, anger, and protest.
Senate sponsors Nikil Saval, D-Philadelphia, and Amanda Cappelletti, D-Norristown emphasized the safety risks and confusion created by masked law enforcement. Though the bill’s specific language is not yet published, a memo from its sponsors says that agents working within the commonwealth would be required to wear a uniform and badge that identifies their number and department.
Along with the requirements would come civil and criminal penalties for failing to properly identify oneself.
“This legislative initiative is deeply important for the safety of our Commonwealth, and I believe people from across the political spectrum understand how critical it is for our community members to be able to trust our law enforcement officers,” said Cappelletti in an email to The Center Square. “Unfortunately, we have already seen troubling incidents in Pennsylvania where individuals impersonated law enforcement officers to commit crimes.”
Outside Pennsylvania, one such crime has rocked the nation. The assassination of Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, was committed by a man impersonating a police officer. Hortman’s killer also took the life of her husband and shot Democratic Senator John Hoffman and his wife.
“Our communities are living in fear as anonymous, unidentifiable law enforcement officers separate loved ones, attack workers and small businesses, and hollow out our public spaces,” said Saval. “Public safety requires a foundation of trust and communication, and this cannot be achieved when officers conceal their appearances and identities during the course of their duties.”
The Department of Homeland Security says that attacks toward its agents have gone up 500%, just as the agency’s unprecedented raids have. Many communities, including Philadelphia, are considered sanctuary cities and limit local police cooperation with ICE. Across the country, it has often put cities and states at odds with the federal government.
“Local police departments and other law enforcement agencies already have protocols in place to ensure their agents and officers are identifiable,” said Cappelletti. “It’s common sense to make that a standard practice for every law enforcement officer carrying out official duties in Pennsylvania.”
The bill lays out exceptions for masking to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and for circumstances when undercover officers are conducting criminal investigations.
In a conversation with CBS News, ICE Director Todd Lyons said he would continue to allow agents to wear masks.
“I’m not a proponent of the masks, however, if that’s a tool that the men and women of ICE to keep their families safe, then I’ll allow it,” said Lyons.
Acknowledging the legal efforts to prohibit the masks he said, “I would also want, you know, elected officials to help us hold those people accountable that do dox or threaten an ICE officer, an agent, or their family.”
In the Republican-controlled Senate, the bill faces stiff odds.
Cappelletti told The Center Square, “We are in contact with our colleagues in the House as they develop their version of the legislation, and we are using that collaboration to help inform key decisions about the language and direction of our own bill.”
