KNX News 97.1 FM: Rep. Laura Friedman backs No Masks for ICE bill

A local congresswoman is helping to lead the push at the federal level to get ICE agents to unmask.

On Tuesday, Representative Laura Friedman, who represents California's 30th district, announced she's helping to get the No Masks for ICE Act through Congress.

“When agents are masked and anonymous, you cannot have accountability,” she said. “That's not how democracy works. That's not how our country works. Letting law enforcement operate completely anonymously without names or badges or accountability is not the answer. That kind of secrecy puts everyone at risk, and it makes the public lose faith and trust in law enforcement.”

Under the bill, introduced by Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), ICE agents would be prohibited from wearing facial coverings “except in cases where masks are needed for health or safety.” Agents will also be required to wear clothes that shows their names and ICE affiliation.

Friedman said that, without showing a badge or ID, what's taking place here in Southern California and across the country equates to kidnapping.

“ Anonymous ICE agents have emboldened people who want to impersonate ICE agents to commit crimes,” she said. “In North Carolina, a man impersonated an ICE agent and threatened deportation in order to sexually assault a woman. Here in Southern California, a man was arrested who was suspected of posing as a federal immigration officer. He was found to have an unregistered firearm.”

In a statement to CBS News New York, a spokesperson for ICE said that the masks are optional, adding that “ICE law enforcement and their families are being targeted and are facing a 500% increase in assaults ... due to the demonization of ICE by hostile groups and irresponsible elected officials."

You can view the bill here.