ICE agents wear masks for a critical reason—to protect themselves and their families from violent left-wing radicals who have repeatedly threatened to dox, assault, and even murder them. Despite this clear and present danger, Democrats and their allies in the liberal media continue to push for ICE officers to unmask and identify themselves during arrests. This isn’t about transparency; it’s a deliberate attempt to put targets on the backs of law enforcement officers who are simply doing their jobs.
The hypocrisy is staggering. Democrats never demand that Antifa terrorists unmask when they riot in the streets, setting buildings ablaze and assaulting innocent people. They don’t call for pro-Hamas campus agitators to reveal their identities as they spew hate and vandalize property. And they certainly don’t insist on voter ID to ensure election integrity. Yet, when it comes to ICE—an agency enforcing the law under President Donald Trump’s administration—suddenly, “accountability” is their battle cry. The truth is, they don’t care about accountability. They want ICE agents exposed, vulnerable, and at the mercy of their radical base.
Democrats are not the only ones pushing for ICE transparency in conducting their operations. It’s not too much to ask for your government to act in a manner that does not incite terror. They need to SLOW DOWN and conduct themselves with decency and order and transparency. And they will have much more popular support if they go after actual criminals rather than targeting the refugee at her church or the 64 year old grandmother watering her lawn, or the local roofer providing for his family or the doctoral student who holds an unpopular view.
It may be more popular, and I certainly want the worst of the illegal aliens to be removed from among us, however, I wonder why others should be left alone? As I recently posted, the roofer recently picked up by ICE was released shortly after. His released was not noised around as loudly as his being picked up.
BTW, I remember a raid on a local restaurant at least a decade ago and the illegal aliens working there picked up. Many of these people lured here illegally are abused and misused.
Many companies use temporary workers from around the world, but they come in legally.
I feel sorry for many around the world. I want my country to help as many as possible. Many of us give to organizations that do that as well. It is not a reason to come into our country illegally and that is why many who have come are here.
I did have to laugh at the thought that churches can now recommend someone for office. The truth is that many, if not most, liberal churches have always done this and allowed political speech repeatedly in their churches. Only conservatives had to be concerned about the government coming after them for this. I am not recommending churches do it, however. I think churches have enough to do to preach the Word faithfully.
Are we to give an okie dokie to illegal grandma , aspiring medical student, roofer, landscaper ? They are here knowingly willfully and illegally. There is a correct way to enter this country and thousands from other countries are in line to do just that. Many are aspiring medical students, grandmas and laborers…
Do we risk the lives of ICE officers because it is scary for illegals? I think not…but the left would rather harbor them even when many of them are traffickers, murderers, rapists, drug cartels, pedophiles….
NJ is correct. We don’t risk the officers lives because criminals, and they are, are offended. Just like when drug raids happen and agents are masked, for their own protection. This is nothing new when dealing with criminals.
And sorry Debra, but they should live in fear of the govt whose laws they’re breaking. That’s who wields the sword of justice.
And hey, they can always self deport if it’s so scary here.
The students are not here illegally. And even if they were, it doesn’t give our government a free pass from using discretion and judgement in all of its functions. If they do, then perhaps ICE will not feel a need to hide their face—or much less so. If the government continues to use thuggish, terrorist tactics it’s not going to end well for the country..
NJ — I know you don’t intend it but your first comment seems to indicate that ICE should be held to the same standards as antifa or rioters. Or conversely civilian opponents should be held to the same standards as ICE. Gov’t para-military forces (ICE, ATF, etc) should be held to a higher standard.
Masks aren’t the main issue — riot police and SWAT use face shields and masks too. It’s the lack of a uniform and an identifying personnel number on the agents. Without identification, how do people know it’s not a criminal attempting to kidnap people into white panel vans with no windows? It’s almost a serial killer cliche. I’m surprised the resistance isn’t greater and more violent.
Just a note — to be pro-Palestine does not necessarily mean to be pro-Hamas. Similarly to be critical of Israel does not mean to be anti-Semitic. There seems to be a deliberate confusion of terms among Isreali supporters.
If said students are here on student visas, it’s a violation and grounds for deportation if you break laws while here, as many of these foreign college students are doing at these protest.
“Yesterday, I was joined in Palm Beach by some of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims as I signed legislation authorizing the release of grand jury material from the Epstein case. Justice has never been served in this case and the public has a right to know what happened.”
By saying the students aren’t here illegally I am guessing those are the ones having their visas revoked? Some of those students being masked crying death to America?
And “even if they are” here illegally we as a nation should be hand tied due to special circumstances? That makes no sense to me. We are a nation of laws…we ALL abide by laws and just because I’m late for an appointment I can’t drive like a Indy 500 racer to get there! There are consequences to our decisions… that’s what I instilled in my children and some have found out the hard way….so must the law breakers invading our country.
We all have heard of those who broke the law and then go on to live for decades as good family people and citizens. Yet, they have to go on trial decades later. The judges are able to use discretion as to sentences, of course. Should we say because they live good lives later that we should ignore what they have done? Sometimes that has been murder decades ago. What about the victims? There are often victims of illegal aliens. Some of those are more difficult to see. Identity theft etc. Even more representatives in Congress is a theft from actual citizens.
I will say, though, that many of these people were deliberately misled by President Biden and those who stood with the decision to just leave the border open. I am so sorry for them and all the poor children especially.
“Some of those students being masked crying death to America?”
I Is that the Columbia students you’re referring to? If it is then my recollection is that some students were acting illegally by blocking other students access and intimidating other students. I would revoke those visas too. But others have been revoked for much lesser reasons.
I don’t think our government is using good judgement overall in the deportations. Good judgement doesn’t tie anyone’s hands. And yes there are consequences to every decision —including the decisions being made by our government right now to employ thuggish and terroristic tactics to indiscriminately uproot and tear apart otherwise law abiding families. Good judgement produces better consequences for those who love justice and mercy. And right now our government isn’t showing much.
And I would also add that I don’t have a voice in how people have chosen to come here, whether legal or illegal, with good intentions or evil. I can say to those who would come in the future: come through the door as a friend, not over the fence like an enemy. Then post guards at the wall and welcome friends.
But as some have pointed out, that’s not the message we put out when most people came., and many came in desperation and have survived and thrived. Now the administration views them as a problem. But having a problem doesn’t justify the methods we’re using to solve it. We should be very cautious of authorizing our government to use methods on others that we wouldn’t want them to use on ourselves.
HRW, I do think masking is an issue as well as the other factors. I don’t want my government to feel authorized to use unacceptable methods of apprehending (or disappearing) suspects.
In California: Many issues being raised that deserve discussion; lifestyles are changing out of fear.
~ ICE arrests near two churches in San Bernardino County last month show how ramped up immigration enforcement is disturbing places that were once deemed protected.
On June 20 federal agents picked up a longtime parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Montclair on church property, according to the National Catholic Reporter. In a separate incident that day, agents chased several men onto the church parking lot of St. Adelaide parish in Highland.
Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin disputed what she said were news reports that agents had entered the church hall.
“The accusation that ICE entered a church to make an arrest are FALSE,” she stated in an email to CalMatters. “ICE conducted a traffic stop on an illegal alien on June 20 in the general proximity of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Montclair, California. The illegal alien chose to pull into the church parking lot. Officers then safely made the arrest.”
For almost a decade and a half, U.S. immigration officers steered clear of churches, complying with a directive by former President Barack Obama that limited immigration enforcement at sensitive locations, including schools, hospitals and places of worship. Former President Joe Biden maintained those guidelines to deter immigration action in areas that provide essential services.
On his inauguration day Jan. 20, President Donald Trump revoked that protection, stating that the Biden-era restrictions “thwart law enforcement in or near so-called ‘sensitive’ areas.” ~
_______________
(And from today): (Northern) California mayor tells residents to stay inside after reports of ICE activity: Mayor shared message on city Facebook page
(Did businesses remain closed for the day? Employees stay home from work? Children remain inside? Probably; but this has been happening… a close friend has relatives who have been here from Bangladesh for years now afraid to leave the family home.)
NJ — I know you don’t intend it but your first comment seems to indicate that ICE should be held to the same standards as antifa or rioters
Not in the least. The actual point is the hypocrisy of the left. They are all about the dang mask! Doesn’t matter to them that they are threatening murder to the agents yet those who blow up the country wearing masks they are cool with them…
We’ve had businesses close because workers — many of them fully documented — are afraid to show up. ICE will arrive at a car wash and workers scatter, running as fast as they can for fear of being grabbed.
Our outdoor holiday fairs and farmers’ markets have been canceled out of fear of putting vendors and their customers at risk.
All of this has had a chilling effect on our state, especially, this summer. One restaurant owner told me all of his workers are fully documented but are fearful of ICE showing up as they have friends and relatives, good people, workers also, who maybe aren’t for various reasons and they don’t want to be forced into being “questioned.”
We’ve failed to deal well or honestly with the immigration question in our nation for too many years and both sides are guilty. I don’t know why. From lax open borders to “this,” masked unmarked bounty hunters given quotas and chasing down the innocent and guilty alike with handcuffs and without bothering with the due process that America is (or was, anyway) known for and leaving many people in fear.
Our country needs to have an honest conversation and figure out how to handle this, compassionately. This has become ugly.
Third son tells the story of working at a job fifteen or twenty years ago. He and the others would be hard at work when suddenly he would be alone. Twenty or thirty people disappeared. Turned out immigration was coming through, they all got the signal and took off, returning later. Many were legal, many were undocumented. Nothing new under the sun.
No there is nothing new under the sun. But there are things new to me that are happening in my lifetime. So it’s new under the sun of my life. This is our moment.
What is happening now with the ICE raids may not be entirely new, but they are much more frequent and intense., which makes this current situation somewhat “new”.
Kizzie I think the new of the current situation is the violence and rebellious actions of certain people in sanctuary states. In Denver they harbored illegals in churches and schools saying ICE could not enter. Guess where M-13 gangs hid out ? Thus placing children and church goers in harms way because the gangs found “safety”. It seems no matter what decisions are being made there is always another problem…
Wandering Views 
ICE agents wear masks for a critical reason—to protect themselves and their families from violent left-wing radicals who have repeatedly threatened to dox, assault, and even murder them. Despite this clear and present danger, Democrats and their allies in the liberal media continue to push for ICE officers to unmask and identify themselves during arrests. This isn’t about transparency; it’s a deliberate attempt to put targets on the backs of law enforcement officers who are simply doing their jobs.
The hypocrisy is staggering. Democrats never demand that Antifa terrorists unmask when they riot in the streets, setting buildings ablaze and assaulting innocent people. They don’t call for pro-Hamas campus agitators to reveal their identities as they spew hate and vandalize property. And they certainly don’t insist on voter ID to ensure election integrity. Yet, when it comes to ICE—an agency enforcing the law under President Donald Trump’s administration—suddenly, “accountability” is their battle cry. The truth is, they don’t care about accountability. They want ICE agents exposed, vulnerable, and at the mercy of their radical base.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Democrats are not the only ones pushing for ICE transparency in conducting their operations. It’s not too much to ask for your government to act in a manner that does not incite terror. They need to SLOW DOWN and conduct themselves with decency and order and transparency. And they will have much more popular support if they go after actual criminals rather than targeting the refugee at her church or the 64 year old grandmother watering her lawn, or the local roofer providing for his family or the doctoral student who holds an unpopular view.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It may be more popular, and I certainly want the worst of the illegal aliens to be removed from among us, however, I wonder why others should be left alone? As I recently posted, the roofer recently picked up by ICE was released shortly after. His released was not noised around as loudly as his being picked up.
BTW, I remember a raid on a local restaurant at least a decade ago and the illegal aliens working there picked up. Many of these people lured here illegally are abused and misused.
Many companies use temporary workers from around the world, but they come in legally.
I feel sorry for many around the world. I want my country to help as many as possible. Many of us give to organizations that do that as well. It is not a reason to come into our country illegally and that is why many who have come are here.
I did have to laugh at the thought that churches can now recommend someone for office. The truth is that many, if not most, liberal churches have always done this and allowed political speech repeatedly in their churches. Only conservatives had to be concerned about the government coming after them for this. I am not recommending churches do it, however. I think churches have enough to do to preach the Word faithfully.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Are we to give an okie dokie to illegal grandma , aspiring medical student, roofer, landscaper ? They are here knowingly willfully and illegally. There is a correct way to enter this country and thousands from other countries are in line to do just that. Many are aspiring medical students, grandmas and laborers…
Do we risk the lives of ICE officers because it is scary for illegals? I think not…but the left would rather harbor them even when many of them are traffickers, murderers, rapists, drug cartels, pedophiles….
LikeLiked by 2 people
NJ is correct. We don’t risk the officers lives because criminals, and they are, are offended. Just like when drug raids happen and agents are masked, for their own protection. This is nothing new when dealing with criminals.
And sorry Debra, but they should live in fear of the govt whose laws they’re breaking. That’s who wields the sword of justice.
And hey, they can always self deport if it’s so scary here.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The students are not here illegally. And even if they were, it doesn’t give our government a free pass from using discretion and judgement in all of its functions. If they do, then perhaps ICE will not feel a need to hide their face—or much less so. If the government continues to use thuggish, terrorist tactics it’s not going to end well for the country..
LikeLiked by 1 person
NJ — I know you don’t intend it but your first comment seems to indicate that ICE should be held to the same standards as antifa or rioters. Or conversely civilian opponents should be held to the same standards as ICE. Gov’t para-military forces (ICE, ATF, etc) should be held to a higher standard.
Masks aren’t the main issue — riot police and SWAT use face shields and masks too. It’s the lack of a uniform and an identifying personnel number on the agents. Without identification, how do people know it’s not a criminal attempting to kidnap people into white panel vans with no windows? It’s almost a serial killer cliche. I’m surprised the resistance isn’t greater and more violent.
Just a note — to be pro-Palestine does not necessarily mean to be pro-Hamas. Similarly to be critical of Israel does not mean to be anti-Semitic. There seems to be a deliberate confusion of terms among Isreali supporters.
hrw
LikeLiked by 2 people
#USELESSGOP
https://x.com/ShawnFleetwood/status/1943300267266494505?t=3s3kIVVzCUmrFnw_aZNTCg&s=19
“Why is John Thune about to send the Senate on a month-long vacation when there are more than 120 Trump nominees still awaiting confirmation?”
LikeLiked by 3 people
Debra,
If said students are here on student visas, it’s a violation and grounds for deportation if you break laws while here, as many of these foreign college students are doing at these protest.
Don’t like it?
Change the laws.
LikeLiked by 5 people
Well at least someone is keeping their word on the Epstein stuff.
https://x.com/MariaPeiro305/status/1942707868458774623?t=z1bcksxVT_vk8EkvfMdIUA&s=19
“Yesterday, I was joined in Palm Beach by some of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims as I signed legislation authorizing the release of grand jury material from the Epstein case. Justice has never been served in this case and the public has a right to know what happened.”
LikeLiked by 3 people
By saying the students aren’t here illegally I am guessing those are the ones having their visas revoked? Some of those students being masked crying death to America?
And “even if they are” here illegally we as a nation should be hand tied due to special circumstances? That makes no sense to me. We are a nation of laws…we ALL abide by laws and just because I’m late for an appointment I can’t drive like a Indy 500 racer to get there! There are consequences to our decisions… that’s what I instilled in my children and some have found out the hard way….so must the law breakers invading our country.
LikeLiked by 2 people
We all have heard of those who broke the law and then go on to live for decades as good family people and citizens. Yet, they have to go on trial decades later. The judges are able to use discretion as to sentences, of course. Should we say because they live good lives later that we should ignore what they have done? Sometimes that has been murder decades ago. What about the victims? There are often victims of illegal aliens. Some of those are more difficult to see. Identity theft etc. Even more representatives in Congress is a theft from actual citizens.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I will say, though, that many of these people were deliberately misled by President Biden and those who stood with the decision to just leave the border open. I am so sorry for them and all the poor children especially.
LikeLiked by 3 people
“Some of those students being masked crying death to America?”
I Is that the Columbia students you’re referring to? If it is then my recollection is that some students were acting illegally by blocking other students access and intimidating other students. I would revoke those visas too. But others have been revoked for much lesser reasons.
I don’t think our government is using good judgement overall in the deportations. Good judgement doesn’t tie anyone’s hands. And yes there are consequences to every decision —including the decisions being made by our government right now to employ thuggish and terroristic tactics to indiscriminately uproot and tear apart otherwise law abiding families. Good judgement produces better consequences for those who love justice and mercy. And right now our government isn’t showing much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And I would also add that I don’t have a voice in how people have chosen to come here, whether legal or illegal, with good intentions or evil. I can say to those who would come in the future: come through the door as a friend, not over the fence like an enemy. Then post guards at the wall and welcome friends.
But as some have pointed out, that’s not the message we put out when most people came., and many came in desperation and have survived and thrived. Now the administration views them as a problem. But having a problem doesn’t justify the methods we’re using to solve it. We should be very cautious of authorizing our government to use methods on others that we wouldn’t want them to use on ourselves.
LikeLiked by 1 person
HRW, I do think masking is an issue as well as the other factors. I don’t want my government to feel authorized to use unacceptable methods of apprehending (or disappearing) suspects.
LikeLike
Earlier in this thread, Debra mentioned the need for “discretion and judgement.” I agree.
I keep thinking of James 2:13:
~ “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” ~
As for ICE agents apparel, let them wear masks, but they should also wear uniforms that identify them as ICE agents.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In California: Many issues being raised that deserve discussion; lifestyles are changing out of fear.
~ ICE arrests near two churches in San Bernardino County last month show how ramped up immigration enforcement is disturbing places that were once deemed protected.
On June 20 federal agents picked up a longtime parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Montclair on church property, according to the National Catholic Reporter. In a separate incident that day, agents chased several men onto the church parking lot of St. Adelaide parish in Highland.
Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin disputed what she said were news reports that agents had entered the church hall.
“The accusation that ICE entered a church to make an arrest are FALSE,” she stated in an email to CalMatters. “ICE conducted a traffic stop on an illegal alien on June 20 in the general proximity of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Montclair, California. The illegal alien chose to pull into the church parking lot. Officers then safely made the arrest.”
For almost a decade and a half, U.S. immigration officers steered clear of churches, complying with a directive by former President Barack Obama that limited immigration enforcement at sensitive locations, including schools, hospitals and places of worship. Former President Joe Biden maintained those guidelines to deter immigration action in areas that provide essential services.
On his inauguration day Jan. 20, President Donald Trump revoked that protection, stating that the Biden-era restrictions “thwart law enforcement in or near so-called ‘sensitive’ areas.” ~
_______________
(And from today): (Northern) California mayor tells residents to stay inside after reports of ICE activity: Mayor shared message on city Facebook page
(Did businesses remain closed for the day? Employees stay home from work? Children remain inside? Probably; but this has been happening… a close friend has relatives who have been here from Bangladesh for years now afraid to leave the family home.)
___________________
* dj
LikeLiked by 2 people
NJ — I know you don’t intend it but your first comment seems to indicate that ICE should be held to the same standards as antifa or rioters
Not in the least. The actual point is the hypocrisy of the left. They are all about the dang mask! Doesn’t matter to them that they are threatening murder to the agents yet those who blow up the country wearing masks they are cool with them…
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’ve had businesses close because workers — many of them fully documented — are afraid to show up. ICE will arrive at a car wash and workers scatter, running as fast as they can for fear of being grabbed.
Our outdoor holiday fairs and farmers’ markets have been canceled out of fear of putting vendors and their customers at risk.
All of this has had a chilling effect on our state, especially, this summer. One restaurant owner told me all of his workers are fully documented but are fearful of ICE showing up as they have friends and relatives, good people, workers also, who maybe aren’t for various reasons and they don’t want to be forced into being “questioned.”
We’ve failed to deal well or honestly with the immigration question in our nation for too many years and both sides are guilty. I don’t know why. From lax open borders to “this,” masked unmarked bounty hunters given quotas and chasing down the innocent and guilty alike with handcuffs and without bothering with the due process that America is (or was, anyway) known for and leaving many people in fear.
Our country needs to have an honest conversation and figure out how to handle this, compassionately. This has become ugly.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Third son tells the story of working at a job fifteen or twenty years ago. He and the others would be hard at work when suddenly he would be alone. Twenty or thirty people disappeared. Turned out immigration was coming through, they all got the signal and took off, returning later. Many were legal, many were undocumented. Nothing new under the sun.
mumsee
LikeLiked by 1 person
No there is nothing new under the sun. But there are things new to me that are happening in my lifetime. So it’s new under the sun of my life. This is our moment.
LikeLike
Good point Debra. And I really do hope this becomes our moment to actually do something to address this issue in a just and compassionate way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What is happening now with the ICE raids may not be entirely new, but they are much more frequent and intense., which makes this current situation somewhat “new”.
LikeLike
Kizzie I think the new of the current situation is the violence and rebellious actions of certain people in sanctuary states. In Denver they harbored illegals in churches and schools saying ICE could not enter. Guess where M-13 gangs hid out ? Thus placing children and church goers in harms way because the gangs found “safety”. It seems no matter what decisions are being made there is always another problem…
LikeLiked by 1 person