Cuomo Critiques Democrats on ICE Mask Policy
On Monday, Chris Cuomo, the host of News Nation, took a jab at Democrats for what he sees as misplaced priorities regarding mask requirements for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
With a rise in attacks, Democrats like New Jersey’s Cory Booker and Alex Padilla from California have introduced a measure that, as of July 8th, would prohibit ICE and other federal immigration agents from wearing face masks during most enforcement activities. Cuomo contended that the focus should be on reforming immigration policies instead.
“Democrats are advocating for laws that require ICE agents to take off their masks when apprehending undocumented immigrants—or perhaps when they’re just going to make an arrest,” Cuomo suggested. “Why is this the main concern? Instead of debating the interpretation of policy or Fourth Amendment issues, they’re fixated on something relatively trivial.”
He added, “This focus on masks may play well on social media, but there are legitimate reasons for masks, not just superficial ones. If your job puts you at risk, you might want to protect your identity.”
Cuomo also referenced a press release from the Department of Homeland Security, mentioning that Rep. Sardo Carvajal, a Democratic representative from California, had allegedly doxxed an ICE employee, leading to that employee being attacked by rioters.
“That’s troubling. You might think what they are doing is misguided, and that’s a valid debate,” Cuomo stated. “But let’s focus on actual policy instead of masks.”
In a related note, the Department of Justice has apprehended several individuals accused of orchestrating an armed assault on a Texas ICE facility over the Fourth of July and shooting a local police officer.
During a weekend interview, Border Patrol leader Tom Homan clashed with Politico’s Dasha Burns, who questioned why ICE agents needed to wear masks while carrying out their duties. Homan noted, “I’m wearing a mask. They still display their insignias. Entities like HSI, ERO, FBI, and DEA have been targeted during unprecedented attacks, so some protection seems warranted.”
