Congresswoman Grace Meng
Congresswoman Grace Meng recently proposed a federal bill requiring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to publicly wear badges, numbers and the logo of their law enforcement agencies when making arrests or interrogations, in order to improve the transparency of law enforcement and protect the safety of law enforcement officers and the community.
The proposal was submitted to Congress on the 9th of this month, proposing to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to strengthen the identification of ICE officers during on-site law enforcement. Meng pointed out that in recent years, there have been continuous cases of ICE agents conducting immigration law enforcement without revealing their identities, which has caused panic among the public, so legislation is needed to “restore transparency and trust.”
On the 21st, Meng told Queens media QNS: “NYPD, IRS, and FBI law enforcement officers all wear badges with numbers, and ICE should also have a clear identification mechanism. This is not only a law enforcement norm, but also basic common sense to protect the safety of citizens and law enforcement officers.”
This move comes at a time when criticism of ICE officers wearing masks or even wearing masks throughout the law enforcement process is increasing. ICE Acting Director Toddy Lyons said in an interview with CBS a few days ago that although he himself does not advocate wearing masks, for personal safety reasons, some agents are currently allowed to perform tasks with masks on. He said that some ICE personnel have been “severely doxed” and that masking is a necessary tool to “protect themselves and their families.”
At the same time, New York State legislators have also promoted state-level legislation to prohibit ICE and other federal law enforcement officers from wearing masks when performing civil immigration tasks in the state. The proposal, called the Ending Unlawful Law Enforcement Tactics Act (MELT Act), was jointly proposed by State Senator Patricia Fahy and State Assemblyman Tony Simone, and stipulates that law enforcement officers must wear uniforms with their names and numbers printed on them, unless they are required to wear masks in special circumstances such as infectious disease protection, chemical leaks, fires, water rescues, or extreme climates.
Fahey pointed out that ICE agents have long performed their duties in masks, like “masked militias”. “This law enforcement method has gone beyond the issue of immigration and has evolved into intimidation and abuse of power, which runs counter to the rule of law in the United States.” Simonyi said that since Trump took office, communities have continued to “live in fear of ICE raids.” He warned: “These masked law enforcement officers acting on Trump’s orders appear in workplaces, courts and communities, taking people to foreign countries for imprisonment without any judicial process. Such means are extremely un-American. The MELT Act will restore accountability for law enforcement.”
