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FBI reportedly calling Immigration and Customs Enforcement Following a series of violent criminals impersonating immigration agents, agents are required to “adequately identify themselves” when interacting with the public.
“Due to the recent increase ICE enforcement action “Across the country, criminal actors are using ICE’s increased public profile and media coverage to their advantage to target vulnerable communities and carry out criminal activities,” the agency reportedly wrote last month in a bulletin obtained by Property of the People, a watchdog group. “This not only impacts victims and communities, but also has broader negative consequences for law enforcement agencies.”
The memo, prepared by the FBI’s Office of Partner Engagement and the New York Field Office, and first reported by wiredpointed to a series of related events carried out by ICE impersonator,
These include an August robbery in New York where impersonators tied up employees, an April kidnapping in Florida, and a January incident in which a North Carolina man broke into a motel posing as an agent and threatened a woman with deportation if she did not engage in sexual acts with him.
Independent The FBI and ICE have been contacted for comment.
Under federal rules, immigration officials must reveal their identity and reason for arrest “as soon as it is practical and safe to do so.”
During the Trump administration, immigration officers have worn masks, used unmarked cars and adopted aggressive tactics during operations.
In response to these actions, leading Democrats have called on immigration agencies to stop relying on masked officers Identifying officials accused of crossing the border,
“This is America. This is not the Soviet Union,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Said In June. “We’re not behind the Iron Curtain. This isn’t the 1930s. And every one of them, no matter what it takes, no matter how long it takes, will definitely be identified.”
In September, California Passed a law banning ICE agents from hiding their faces During the raid, however, the Department of Homeland Security insists that the state does not have jurisdiction over federal agents on this case.
Federal officials say masks are necessary to protect agents from an increase in threats against federal personnel.
“I’ve mentioned I’m not a fan of masks, okay? Because if you look at the previous administration, from January 20th through February, ICE officers and agents were not wearing masks,” Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons. Said In October. “It wasn’t until high-ranking elected officials like Hakeem Jefferies called for the docketing of ICE agents.”
Under the Trump administration, immigration agents have used other tactics that the previous administration avoided for fear of diminishing community trust, including abandoning a policy. Limited arrests at sensitive places Such as health care facilities and houses of worship.
The White House has also expanded immigration partnerships with local police departments.
As Independent have reported, states and universities Attempts made to ban protesters from wearing face masks In the wake of widespread campus anti-Israel protests, civil rights advocates have warned that the move would stifle protest rights.