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Jilly_in_VA

(14,103 posts)
Tue Feb 10, 2026, 04:53 PM 5 hrs ago

The question Republicans still don't know how to answer: Why should ICE agents wear masks?

Every day, in communities nationwide, police officers do their jobs with a high degree of transparency: The public can see the officers’ faces, badge numbers, rank and, in most instances, even their surnames featured on uniforms. Though many cops are forced to deal with threats and violence, there isn’t a police department in the United States that allows officers to wear masks or hide their identities while they carry out day-to-day duties.

Indeed, that’s the American norm across agencies, departments and jurisdictions. State troopers don’t wear masks. Neither do FBI agents. U.S. marshals don’t wear masks; sheriffs don’t wear masks; judges and prosecutors don’t wear masks; and Secret Service agents don’t wear masks.

But federal immigration agents, most notably Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, have spent much of the past year operating under a unique standard.

Much of the public is not on board with this. The latest national poll from Quinnipiac University, for example, found that 61% of Americans believe ICE agents should not be permitted to wear masks or other face coverings.

By and large, Republican policymakers don’t seem to care, though they keep struggling with the same obvious question: Why should ICE agents have the kind of secrecy that’s at odds with the American tradition, Americans’ attitudes and the standards of every other person who works in American law enforcement?

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/the-question-republicans-still-dont-know-how-to-answer-why-should-ice-agents-wear-masks

Exactly!

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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The question Republicans still don't know how to answer: Why should ICE agents wear masks? (Original Post) Jilly_in_VA 5 hrs ago OP
They know what they are doing is likely illegal and do not want to be identified. walkingman 5 hrs ago #1
Yep! It's disturbingly wrong and they know it. Yet they KPN 5 hrs ago #2
The only time I might possibly accept their wearing masks Jerry2144 5 hrs ago #3
The face masks and cos-play warrior look are total horse shit. Moostache 5 hrs ago #4
Real cops don't wear masks. Qutzupalotl 4 hrs ago #5
With criminals cosplaying as ICE agents, it's only fair to let ICE agents cosplay as criminals! struggle4progress 3 hrs ago #6

walkingman

(10,520 posts)
1. They know what they are doing is likely illegal and do not want to be identified.
Tue Feb 10, 2026, 05:05 PM
5 hrs ago

They should always be required to publically identify themselves and be held to the same standards that all law enforcement has in the US. They should also be held accountable for their actions.

No matter how much a segment of this nation hates immigrants it does not give them the right to break the law.

KPN

(17,206 posts)
2. Yep! It's disturbingly wrong and they know it. Yet they
Tue Feb 10, 2026, 05:15 PM
5 hrs ago

still fumble around trying to justify thugs with sometimes nothing more than the letters “police”, ICE or CBP on their backs attacking innocent people while carrying semi-automatic weapons. Not justifiable.

Jerry2144

(3,221 posts)
3. The only time I might possibly accept their wearing masks
Tue Feb 10, 2026, 05:15 PM
5 hrs ago

Is if it’s respiratory protection necessary for a real emergency (not due to ICE or CBP tossing tear gas or pepper spray or other irritants). But if they have to, to save lives, maybe. But my level of trust of them is significantly less than my level of trust I have for a hungry golden doodle and my steak sitting on the coffee table.

Moostache

(11,107 posts)
4. The face masks and cos-play warrior look are total horse shit.
Tue Feb 10, 2026, 05:20 PM
5 hrs ago

These more than anything else mark the entire bunch of bums as 3%ers and Proud Boy rejects who are running around with semi-flaccid penises and think they have a huge erection for the first time in their miserable lives. I loathe them all and I will spend the rest of my life intentionally discriminating against ANYONE with any association to ICE in their work history for the rest of my life (and my sons').

Lose the masks.
Lose the Unconstitutional behavior.
Lose the fake idea that you're anything more than a boil on the ass of humanity and then. (*and ONLY then) will I even consider those vermin as legitimate human fucking beings again.

To quote the fictional Gunnery Sergeant Hartmann (from 'Full Metal Jacket' fame) - they are all grab-asstic pieces of amphibian shit!!!

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