New York, Jul 18 (AP) In the past few months, a striking new phenomenon has emerged nationwide: immigration enforcement officers detaining individuals, amidst public outrage, while remaining concealed behind caps, sunglasses, and balaclavas, rendering them unidentifiable.
This tactic has become a defining and contentious visual of 2025. The Trump administration's aggressive immigration policies were already divisive, sparking tensions between opponents and supporters. Now, the sight of masked agents adds another layer of conflict unparalleled in the history of U.S. policing.
Officials within the Trump administration defend this practice, arguing that immigration officers face growing harassment both in person and online. By concealing their identities, they aim to protect themselves and their families from threats such as doxing, where personal information is maliciously published online. ICE acting director Todd Lyons recently stated, “I'm sorry if people are offended by them wearing masks, but I'm not going to let my officers and agents go out there and put their lives on the line, their family on the line because people don't like what immigration enforcement is.”
The reaction is as anticipated: pushback from Democrats and state attorneys general. This group argues that face masks incite public fear and should be discontinued. In seeking accountability, Democratic senators recently penned a letter to Lyons, decrying the increased immigration enforcement in workplaces and other public spaces, stating that masked agents “represent a clear attempt to compound that fear and chaos – and to avoid accountability for agents' actions.”
Masking carries negative connotations in American culture, evoking images of outlaws or bank robbers in movies, or masked superheroes whose identities are hidden while enforcing justice, often drawing criticism. Mask-wearing by authorities, especially in other nations, is perceived by Americans as inconsistent with democratic ideals and the common-law right to face one's accuser.
The COVID-19 pandemic further complicated perceptions of masks, with mask-wearing becoming a contentious issue among Trump's base, some of whom dismissed the protective benefits of face coverings. Lately, Trump has criticized mask-wearing among protestors, even suggesting they should face arrest.
Given this cultural backdrop, masked law enforcement is particularly problematic, argues Tobias Winright, a moral theology professor. Winright, with a background in U.S. law enforcement, often writes about policing ethics. He questions, “If what you're doing is above board and right, then why conceal your identity?”
Symbols have different meanings depending on who wields them, explains Alison Kinney, author of the book “Hood.” She suggests that ICE agents, as state representatives, have duties of transparency and accountability. Concealing their faces conflicts with the public service aspect of their roles.
Calls for transparency in policing have been longstanding, with advocates demanding body cameras and clear identification for officers. However, large-scale police masking hasn't been widely practiced in the U.S., except in specific operations.
The most infamous historical example of mask-wearing in America is the racist violence of the Ku Klux Klan. Masks served to hide identities and allowed for dehumanizing attacks, says Elaine Frantz, historian and author. Frantz comments, “One thing about a mask is it kind of works like being behind a riot shield. When you have more of separation from the person you're attacking, it's easier to dehumanize that person.”
Winright expresses concern that normalizing mask-wearing in law enforcement could worsen community relations and increase risks to officers. In Nassau County, near New York City, a recent executive order permits police to mask during certain operations, potentially straining police-community relations further.
“Wearing a mask seems to increase fear and decrease trust, and policing from federal to local in America needs trust and transparency and community relations that are positive,” Winright emphasizes.
He concludes, “The harms, the risks, are greater by wearing masks, not only to the individual officers, but to the profession itself, as well as to the United States society. It's just going to further exacerbate the us-versus-them polarization, the lack of trust, and that's probably the last thing we need right now.” (AP) SCY SCY
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