Latest news with #NoSecretPoliceAct
Fox News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Blue state lawmaker rallies around mask ban for federal agents as ICE operations ramp up
California State Sen. Scott Wiener is introducing legislation to prohibit law enforcement from hiding their faces when working with the public, as well as making sure they can identify themselves. The scrutiny comes as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is increasing arrests in Los Angeles and throughout California, which triggered anti-ICE protests and riots in the region last week. The bill would likely face legal challenges as it attempts to regulate federal authorities at a state level if signed into law. "We're announcing new legislation — the No Secret Police Act (SB 627) — to ban local/state/federal law enforcement, w/ some exceptions, from covering their faces when interacting w/ the public & require them to wear identifying info," Wiener posted to X on Monday. "We're seeing the rise of secret police — masked, no identifying info, even wearing army fatigues — grabbing & disappearing people. It's antithetical to democracy & harms communities. The No Secret Police Act can help end the fear & chaos this behavior creates in communities," the Democrat continued. ICE agents will sometimes wear a face covering as the officers have seen an increase in arrests and assaults in recent weeks, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). A group recently faced scrutiny and doxxing accusations over creating a database of ICE officers, according to Newsweek. A DHS spokesperson pushed back on Wiener's proposal and anti-ICE rhetoric, calling it "despicable." "Sen. Scott Wiener's proposed legislation banning our federal law enforcement from wearing masks and his rhetoric comparing ICE to "secret police"—likening them to the Gestapo—is despicable," Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News Digital. "While ICE officers are being assaulted by rioters and having rocks and Molotov cocktails thrown at them, a sanctuary politician is trying to outlaw officers wearing masks to protect themselves from being doxed and targeted by known and suspected terrorist sympathizers." "Not only is our ICE law enforcement facing a more than 400 percent increase in assaults, but we've also seen thugs launch websites to reveal ICE officers' identity. We will prosecute those who dox ICE agents to the fullest extent of the law," she continued. "The men and women of ICE put their lives on the line every day to arrest violent criminal illegal aliens to protect and defend the lives of American citizens. Make no mistake, this type of rhetoric is contributing to the surge in assaults of ICE officers through their repeated vilification and demonization of ICE." "Scott, go check with a lawyer if this is a thing, and get back to us. (Hint — it isn't— states can't regulate what federal law enforcement wears)," Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for civil rights at the Department of Justice, posted to X. "This fool's idiocy knows no limits. I guess he never heard of doxxing. Cops already have identifying numbers, yet he has no problem with masked rioters throwing bricks at cops. Interesting priorities!" former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva Golden State's legislature has a Democratic supermajority, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom is at heated odds with President Donald Trump over immigration enforcement and the response to civil unrest in Los Angeles last week. Many Democratic critics of the ICE sweeps have said that it has unfairly harmed communities, families and illegal immigrants who have not committed other crimes. Some, like Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, have also cited economic concerns. "Mayors across the L.A. region and the country have spoken out unequivocally against these reckless raids and the Trump administration's chaotic escalation here in Los Angeles," Bass said last week, according to a news release. "When you raid Home Depots and workplaces, when you tear parents and children apart, and when you deploy troops to our streets, you're not trying to keep anyone safe – you're trying to cause fear and panic. These raids must stop."
Newsweek
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
ICE Agents Could Be Banned From Wearing Masks Under New Proposal
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. California lawmakers are looking to stop local police officers and federal agents from wearing face masks or coverings while carrying out operations in the state. A move a leading Republican told Newsweek was made just to "score political brownie-points." The "No Secret Police Act" was introduced by Democrats in the state's Senate on Monday, following criticism that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were trying to hide their identities while carrying out raids in Los Angeles. "The recent federal operations in California have created an environment of profound terror. If we want the public to trust law enforcement, we cannot allow them to behave like secret police in an authoritarian state," state Senator Scott Wiener said in a press release. Why It Matters There has been growing criticism of ICE in recent months for allowing its agents to carry out targeted enforcement operations in plain clothes and face coverings. ICE officials argue that the masks are crucial to protect the identities of agents and their families from death threats. The agency is facing increased scrutiny as President Donald Trump directs his administration to remove millions of migrants without legal status. Federal agents in Portland, Oregon, on June 28, 2018. Federal agents in Portland, Oregon, on June 28, 2018. Alex Milan Tracy/Sipa via AP Images What To Know Democratic state Senators Scott Wiener of San Francisco and Jesse Arreguin of Oakland announced Monday that they will introduce SB 627, a bill that would prohibit local, state, and federal law enforcement officers from concealing their faces during interactions with the public. The lawmakers said the bill would include exemptions for SWAT teams and officers wearing medical masks during natural disasters like wildfires. Transparent riot gear would also be allowed, as it does not obscure the face. Law enforcement officers who conceal their faces while performing official duties could be charged with a misdemeanor under the new proposal. "Our first responders are responsible for vital work in protecting our communities, and trust and accountability are a key aspects in keeping our neighborhoods safe," Arreguín said. Across the aisle, California Republicans criticized the proposal, accusing their colleagues of attempting to "legislatively dox" ICE agents. "At a time when federal agents are literally under attack in our state, California's leaders should be rallying behind law enforcement, not seeking to score political brownie-points by putting them and their families at risk with legislation to publicly expose their identities," Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones told Newsweek. The legislation comes amid growing resistance in California to Trump's plans to carry out what he describes as the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history. What People Are Saying? California Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones, a Republican, told Newsweek: "This bill is nothing more than an attempt to legislatively dox our law enforcement officers. In the name of liberal virtue signaling and pandering to his progressive base, Senator Wiener has introduced a bill that endangers the very men and women who've committed their lives to keeping us safe. "Thankfully, this bill has zero chance of being enforced as the California Legislature has no authority to impose requirements on federal officers, but the mere suggestion of such a dangerous policy is another disappointing sign of the left's distain for law and order in California." State Senator Scott Wiener said in a press release: "Law enforcement officers do critically important work to keep our communities safe, and they should be proud to show their faces and provide identifying information when doing so. It boosts trust in law enforcement, which makes it easier for law enforcement to do their jobs and makes California safer for all of us." State Senator Jesse Arreguín said in a statement. "This bill will ensure that law enforcement are easily identifiable, maintaining that trust and accountability." Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told CBS: "It's for the safety of those individuals or the work that they're doing as far as protecting their identity so they can continue to do investigative work." What Happens Next? The bill is likely to pass in a Democratic-controlled legislature in the state of California.
New York Post
10 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
California Dems propose legislation to ban face masks for law enforcement officers — and not protesters or criminals
As Republicans have pushed for mask bans to crack down on shadowy protesters and criminals, a pair of Democratic lawmakers in California want to prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing face coverings following the federal crackdown on Los Angeles anti-ICE protests. State Sens. Scott Wiener and Jesse Arreguin, who represent San Francisco and Oakland, respectively, announced on social media that they would be introducing the 'No Secret Police Act' to ban most law enforcement members from covering their faces when interacting with the public. The bill would also require officers to display identifying information on their uniforms, like name tags on their helmets. Advertisement 4 Two Democratic lawmakers announced a bill that would ban law enforcement from wearing face coverings while interacting with the public. Toby Canham for NY Post 4 The legislation was dubbed the 'No Secret Police Act'. AFP via Getty Images 'We're seeing the rise of secret police — masked, no identifying info, even wearing army fatigues — grabbing & disappearing people. It's antithetical to democracy & harms communities. The No Secret Police Act can help end the fear & chaos this behavior creates in communities,' Wiener wrote on X. Advertisement 'The recent federal operations in California have created an environment of profound terror. If we want the public to trust law enforcement, we cannot allow them to behave like secret police in an authoritarian state,' Wiener told The San Francisco Standard. The legislation wouldn't affect SWAT members and officers who need to wear medical masks during certain disasters, including wildfires that frequently rock the Golden State. Certain types of riot gear, like the ones donned by many cops handling the LA protests, would also still be permitted under the bill so long as the officer's face is still visible through the face covering. 4 Officials would still be permitted to wear certain masks during disasters, like gas or medical masks. Toby Canham for NY Post 4 Some states have also moved to ban criminals and protesters from wearing face coverings. AFP via Getty Images Advertisement In Los Angeles, protesters have come prepared to the demonstrations with their own face coverings, ranging from medical masks to protect against tear gas to keffiyehs, a traditional Palestinian scarf commonly worn during anti-Israel protests. Some of the masked protesters were photographed and filmed setting cars on fire or hurling items at officers. The coverings make it harder for cops to identify and track down the violent suspects. In New York City, calls for a mask ban on protesters increased after anti-Israel encampments spurred chaos on many college campuses in the city and across the United States. A NYC council member introduced a bill to forbid full-coverage ski masks from being worn in public. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, meanwhile, belabored on publicly advocating a mask ban statewide for months despite encouraging it behind closed doors. She eventually relented while trying to finalize the state budget in April and included a new law that tacks on an additional fine for anyone who wears a mask while committing a crime.
CBS News
17 hours ago
- Politics
- CBS News
California "No Secret Police Act" introduced, would ban police from covering their faces
Two California lawmakers introduced a measure Monday that seeks to ban law enforcement at all levels of government from covering their faces during operations including immigration enforcement. The legislation would also require officers "to be identifiable via their uniform, whether with name or other identifier," according to Democratic Sens. Scott Wiener of San Francisco and Jesse Arreguin of Berkeley, who introduced Senate Bill 627, also known as the "No Secret Police Act." The bill would prohibit local, state and federal law enforcement officers, or any person acting on behalf of a law enforcement agency from covering their faces. The measure includes exceptions for SWAT teams, medical-grade masks such as surgical or N95 masks, and masks designed to protect against smoke during a wildfire-related state of emergency. Wiener said the legislation was prompted by the Trump administration's recent immigration crackdown and reports of federal agents wearing masks and allegedly not identifying themselves during operations. "People are afraid, families are being torn apart," the senator said at a news conference in San Francisco on Monday. "And it's important that anyone who is engaged in law enforcement activity whether state, county or whether its federal that there's full transparency in terms of what happening." The lawmakers said they believed the measure would improve public trust in law enforcement. "This law is rooted in two principles. One, to protect the safety of California's communities. And two, to ensure that there is transparency and accountability for law enforcement," Arreguin said. In an interview with Margaret Brennan of "Face the Nation" on June 8, Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem has defended law enforcement covering their faces. "It's for the safety of those individuals or the work that they're doing as far as protecting their identity so they can continue to do investigative work," Noem said.
19 hours ago
- Politics
California lawmakers introduce legislation to ban law enforcement from wearing face coverings
A pair of lawmakers in California are seeking to ban law enforcement officers in the state from wearing face coverings, amid protests in Los Angeles against the Trump administration's immigration policies. State Sens. Scott Wiener and Jesse Arreguin -- Democratic lawmakers from San Francisco and Oakland, respectively -- announced Monday that they would be filing SB 627 to ban local, state and federal law enforcement from covering their faces when interacting with the public. The legislation, dubbed the No Secret Police Act, would also require law enforcement officers to wear identifying information, Wiener wrote in a post on X. "Secret police behavior tanks trust & must end," Wiener wrote. During a press conference outside San Francisco City Hall on Monday, Wiener said that "secret police" were "grabbing" people off the street, Fox San Francisco affiliate KTVU reported. Exemptions to the bill would include SWAT teams and officers who wear medical masks during natural disasters, such as wildfires, the lawmakers said. Clear riot gear would also be permitted, since they are see-through. The bill intends to ensure transparency and accountability for law enforcement as well as protect them and the public from potential impersonators, Arreguin said. The proposed legislation comes amid several days of protests in Los Angeles over the Trump administration's immigration policies. The protests prompted President Donald Trump deploy National Guard troops without the consent of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. The Los Angeles Police Department made zero arrests on Sunday night, the first day with no arrests since the protests broke out on June 6. Wiener referenced the immigration raids under the Trump administration when introducing the bill, The San Francisco Standard reported. "The recent federal operations in California have created an environment of profound terror," Wiener said, according to the local publication. "If we want the public to trust law enforcement, we cannot allow them to behave like secret police in an authoritarian state."
