In California, a bill introduced by two Bay Area lawmakers would force ICE agents and other federal agents to show their faces and identify themselves while making arrests. New York Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez has introduced similar legislation on Capitol Hill.
On Wednesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi told lawmakers she was unaware that ICE agents are using masks and hoods to obscure their identity during immigration raids. She was questioned by Michigan Democratic Senator Gary Peters.
Sen. Gary Peters: “They have to identify themselves as law enforcement. People think, ’Here’s a person coming up to me, not identified, covering themselves. They’re kidnapping.’ They’ll probably fight back. That endangers the officer, as well. … Someone’s going to fight back if you just think a strange person with their face covered” —
Attorney General Pam Bondi: “It sounds like you” —
Sen. Gary Peters: — “is throwing you into a van. Most people will resist that.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi: “It sounds like you have a specific case, and I would” —
Sen. Gary Peters: “We will have a” —
Attorney General Pam Bondi: — “be happy to talk to you about that at a later time, because I’m not aware of that happening.”