California Bill Would Ban ICE From Wearing Face Masks

"Their power lies in their ability to operate with anonymity. It's disgusting."

BuzzFeed Staff

Newsweek reported that bill co-author Scott Wiener wrote in a press release that, "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."

"Or maybe, they stop rounding people up at immigration hearings, when those people are just trying to follow the process to becoming legal."

—FreshRest4945

"No more, 'Do you know why I pulled you over?' No more mind games to start off the conversation, no more escalations from the get-go in the hopes that they can rack up some charges, and if they're really lucky, punch you in the face because 'they feared for their life' when they confused and frustrated you.

Law enforcement everywhere should be required to be professional. Simple as that."

—oddmanout

—The_Shitty_Admiral

"This is all a sham, and the masks are there to protect them from future prosecution and civil liability. If we can get the masks off, their behavior will change drastically."

—CherryLongjump1989

—soapinthepeehole

—SereneFrost72

—AcadiaLivid2582

—TintedApostle

—justprettymuchdone

"And they know ICE is being filmed for Trump's 'Bad Boys' PR — I guess they might get recognized, or aren't willing to get filmed in such shameful situations."

—XSinTrick6666

"How is a person supposed to differentiate between ICE and a different bad guy home invasion in the heat of the moment?"

—TheRealTinfoil666

—Practical-Bit9905

—RevolutionaryCard512

"Body cameras on 100% of the time, except in locker rooms/bathrooms with a reasonable expectation of privacy. (Don’t abuse this privilege by dragging folks into bathrooms/locker rooms to beat them off camera; you know when you’re crossing the line most of the time.) Most normal police are good. Start turning in the bad ones. Stop shielding their bad behavior."

—infamous_merkin

—phosdick

"They don't want their communities knowing they're modern-day brownshirts. They don't want to be put in a position where they have to utter those infamous words: 'I was just following orders.' It's the same reason they're trying to criminalize doxxing them. Their power lies in their ability to operate with anonymity. It's disgusting."

—Apoc220

—Bloodyfish

—Notgreygoddess

"The reasoning for our Miranda rights goes beyond the rights themselves; it is not possible for society to function otherwise. These rights are structural to all procedures, and it is pure dysfunction to remove them. We will see much more abuse, not to mention that the 'official' ICE agents are already a sign of extreme dysfunction."

—Friendo_Marx

—CoyoteExcellent1042

"If they refuse to show their badge or remove their mask, they are not law enforcement! Call 911 and report an armed man or woman impersonating an officer. They will respond."

—OptimisticSkeleton

"'It's for their safety!' Right, why do police officers usually not cover their faces, but people who kidnap people do? Weird..."

—CharlesB43

—SquarebobSpongepants

Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.