New Jersey lawmakers are pushing for a bill that would ban federal and local law enforcement officers, including those from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), from wearing masks during enforcement operations.
The move comes amid concerns about the impact of masked agents on communities with undocumented residents. Sen. Benjie Wimberly, D-Passaic, has expressed fears that criminals could use masks to impersonate ICE agents, instilling fear in these communities.
According to Wimberly, this tactic is a new development since President Donald Trump took office and executed his campaign promise of mass detention and deportation. Immigration agents have shown up at schools, businesses, and courts with their faces covered and wearing no identification.
Wimberly's bill would bar law enforcement officers from wearing masks or disguises while interacting with the public, except for those working undercover, wearing shields that don't conceal their face, or medical masks. Violators could face fines of $500 to $1,000, prison time up to six months, or both.
Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill has expressed support for the ban, citing instances where masked agents have refused to identify themselves as "unacceptable." California passed a similar bill in September, but the US Department of Justice sued the state over it, calling it an unconstitutional attempt to regulate federal agents.
Lawmakers in several other states have introduced similar legislation. The Trump administration has defended ICE's mask policy, claiming that showing their faces during enforcement operations makes them vulnerable to harassment and online doxing.
Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson said her bill aims to protect law enforcement officers by "honoring the person behind the uniform and the badge." The measure would also prevent state, county, and local law enforcement from obstructing their faces while interacting with the public. However, some legal experts believe that a state law banning ICE agents from wearing masks could be struck down in court due to federalism concerns.
Despite these challenges, Wimberly hopes that the bill can serve as a template for other states to follow.
The move comes amid concerns about the impact of masked agents on communities with undocumented residents. Sen. Benjie Wimberly, D-Passaic, has expressed fears that criminals could use masks to impersonate ICE agents, instilling fear in these communities.
According to Wimberly, this tactic is a new development since President Donald Trump took office and executed his campaign promise of mass detention and deportation. Immigration agents have shown up at schools, businesses, and courts with their faces covered and wearing no identification.
Wimberly's bill would bar law enforcement officers from wearing masks or disguises while interacting with the public, except for those working undercover, wearing shields that don't conceal their face, or medical masks. Violators could face fines of $500 to $1,000, prison time up to six months, or both.
Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill has expressed support for the ban, citing instances where masked agents have refused to identify themselves as "unacceptable." California passed a similar bill in September, but the US Department of Justice sued the state over it, calling it an unconstitutional attempt to regulate federal agents.
Lawmakers in several other states have introduced similar legislation. The Trump administration has defended ICE's mask policy, claiming that showing their faces during enforcement operations makes them vulnerable to harassment and online doxing.
Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson said her bill aims to protect law enforcement officers by "honoring the person behind the uniform and the badge." The measure would also prevent state, county, and local law enforcement from obstructing their faces while interacting with the public. However, some legal experts believe that a state law banning ICE agents from wearing masks could be struck down in court due to federalism concerns.
Despite these challenges, Wimberly hopes that the bill can serve as a template for other states to follow.
It's already hard enough to trust them in the first place, now they're making it even harder to know if you're dealing with someone legit or not. And yeah, I get that Sen. Wimberly is trying to protect communities with undocumented residents, but can't we just focus on addressing the actual issues here rather than worrying about masks? 
It's a bit of an overreach, if you ask me...
It's like, what's next? A law requiring everyone to wear their uniform at all times, even when they're not on the clock? 
. Like, who cares if some bad guys try to impersonate cops? Can't they just use their own faces instead of copying someone else's? And what's with all the fuss about protecting law enforcement officers by showing their faces? Is it really that hard for them to be identifiable without wearing a shield or something? 
making sure law enforcement officers are held accountable for how they present themselves to the public is a good thing...
. But at the same time, I don't think this means they should be allowed to just walk around without identifying themselves... like, what if they're a real cop trying to do some legit work? 
. But if it's gonna make people feel safer, I guess that's a trade-off worth making... or is it? 
I mean, can you blame them for wanting to keep their faces hidden? It's just so... creepy when they show up at your school or business with their mask on and no ID. And what's even more messed up is that they're trying to make it harder for law enforcement to do their job because of some crazy online harassment claims 
. And let's be real, it's not like ICE agents are exactly known for being transparent anyway... this just makes sense 
And then we're punishing people for not wearing a mask just 'cause some dude with a badge thinks it's a good idea... $500 to 1k fine is pretty harsh if you ask me 
Who needs a mask-wearing ban? Like, if I'm trying to identify who's ICE and who's just trying to get a decent taco from the food truck, I want those agents to be wearing their 'I'm gonna deport your cousin' faces for all to see. 
But seriously, what's next? Are we gonna start banning all disguises like Batman and Robin? 
At least they're good guys... I guess some people think it's about 'honoring the person behind the uniform', but honestly, I'm just worried that if I put on a mask in public, I'll be mistaken for a bank robber 
.
I'm literally so fuming about this news!!! Can you believe what's happening?! These lawmakers are trying to protect communities with undocumented residents from being terrorized by masked ICE agents! 
It's not like we don't know that these agents are using their power to intimidate people already, but apparently some dude in New Jersey thinks it's a good idea to make them wear their faces out in the open. Newsflash: it's not going to stop the fear, it's just gonna highlight how ridiculous this whole situation is! 
And what really gets me is that there are people who think we need laws to tell our law enforcement officers what they can and can't do while wearing a mask! 
and another thing, whats with the whole "unacceptable" thing? like whats not acceptable about people wanting some privacy? 
.
This is a really tough one for undocumented folks living in NJ...can't imagine how scary it must feel when you're already feeling like an outsider. I just hope this bill passes and those masked agents start showing their faces 
. It's not about being paranoid, it's about trust and transparency. If they have nothing to hide, why all the secrecy?