Tag Archives: Senator Cory Booker

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer: Six States Propose Ban on ICE Agents Wearing Masks

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Democratic lawmakers in six states have proposed legislation pushing for the ban of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents’ ability to wear masks, aiming to increase transparency. Critics have argued the move compromises agent safety by making them more easily identifiable. President Donald Trump emphasized the importance of protecting law enforcement amid ongoing immigration-related tensions.

Border Czar Thomas Homan noted the personal threats he has faced in his role. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) have defended mask bans as a means to keep ICE transparent.

Booker said, “We must act to maintain trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve, and this legislation is a necessary step toward a more transparent, accountable, and safe immigration enforcement system.”

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Democratic lawmakers have argued that aggressive ICE tactics have fueled fears among vulnerable communities. “For weeks, Americans have watched federal agents with no visible identification detain people off the streets and instill fear in communities across the country,” Booker said.

Booker added, “Reports of individuals impersonating ICE officers have only increased the risk to public and officer safety. The lack of visible identification and uniform standards for immigration enforcement officers has created confusion, stoked fear, and undermined public trust in law enforcement.”

I’m all for it, but I’m hard-pressed to understand how states can control what federal law-enforcement officers wear or don’t wear.

Six States Propose Ban on ICE Agents Wearing Masks

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/six-states-propose-ban-on-ice-agents-wearing-masks/ss-AA1K33bz

Real Clear Politics: Sen. Alex Padilla: If ICE Agents Don’t Have To ID Themselves, Why Wouldn’t You Think You’re Being Kidnapped?

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California Democrat Sen. Alex Padilla, in response to a question about a group arrested for planning to attack an ICE facility in Texas, told CNN this morning: “I do have concern when there are no requirements for ICE agents or other federal agents involved with the immigration enforcement actions to not even identify themselves.”

“If you’re a member of a working-class immigrant community, and you see unmarked cars roll into your community, people getting out of those cars with no identifiers that they are law enforcement, and literally not just detaining, in your mind, maybe kidnapping,” he warned.

DANA BASH, CNN: Officials are looking for a suspect who appeared to fire a gun at a federal agent during a raid. A few days before that, 10 people were arrested after opening fire outside an immigration detention facility in Texas, injuring a police officer. Authorities say it was a planned ambush.

Earlier this week, a man with a rifle in tactical gear was shot dead after firing at Texas Border Patrol, at least the facility. Are you worried that heated rhetoric around this and around the policies are actually putting law enforcement agents at risk?

SEN. ALEX PADILLA: First, let me just denounce any violence. Any violence against law enforcement is unacceptable.

Do I think heated rhetoric is part of what’s causing this response? Sadly, yes. And we have seen this administration escalate and escalate and escalate in all ways and matters, whether it’s the tactics of — with which they’re going about immigration enforcement. There’s a smarter, more effective way to do this than what they’re doing.

BASH: Well, they say that it’s the Democrats’ rhetoric, some calling ICE agents secret police, comparing them to the Gestapo.

PADILLA: Well, I wouldn’t use those words, but I do have concern when there are no requirements for ICE agents or other federal agents involved with the immigration enforcement actions to not even identify themselves.

I mean, if you’re a member of a working-class immigrant community, and you see unmarked cars roll into your community, people getting out of those cars with no identifiers that they are law enforcement, and literally not just detaining, in your mind, maybe kidnapping.

So that’s why Senator Booker and I have this bill to require that identification for ICE agents or anybody involved with immigration enforcement. It’s for the safety of the officers and agents, as well as safety for the community… and to protect against people exploiting the circumstances, impersonating ICE agents and getting involved with burglary, theft, kidnapping, sexual assault and worse.

BASH: The president, as you know, says that they wear masks to protect their own identity from people who want to go after law enforcement.

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/07/13/sen_alex_padilla_if_ice_agents_dont_have_to_id_themselves_why_wouldnt_you_think_youre_being_kidnapped.html

The i Paper: Democrats waited for Trump to crumble. Now they’re starting to fight back

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Democrats are suffering because most of their supporters deem the party’s response to Trump insufficient, and not commensurate with the threat he poses to the country’s future. After spending the best part of 2024 insisting that “democracy is on the ballot”, and that the US system of government could not survive a second Trump administration, for the most part Democrats have licked their wounds and sat on their hands in the months since the President’s victory.

That is partly deliberate, with many Democrats heeding the advice of veteran party strategist James Carville. In February, he urged the party to engage in what he conceded was “the most daring political manoeuvre” in its history. Writing in the New York Times, he advised Democrats to “roll over and play dead. Allow the Republicans to crumble beneath their own weight and make the American people miss us”.

The dangers of heeding that advice are now plain to see. A growing number of voters tell pollsters that the party is failing in its civic duty to identify a path out of Trump’s America, to corral public protests, and to demonstrably lead the way.

Democrats waited for Trump to crumble. Now they’re starting to fight back
The party is craving leadership, which is giving Democrats the courage to act

https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/other/democrats-waited-for-trump-to-crumble-now-they-re-starting-to-fight-back/ar-AA1E5Awb