Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, has criticized the Trump administration’s plans to allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to operate in masks, warning that this could lead to ‘vigilantism’ and ‘depravity.’ In a recent podcast interview on ‘The Bulwark’ podcast, Murphy condemned the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement tactics, including the expansion of ICE and the hiring of more agents to carry out mass deportations. He argued that the anonymity provided by masks could lead to misconduct, as officers would be less identifiable and thus more likely to engage in illegal actions without facing consequences.
Murphy also raised concerns about the potential for hiring unsavory individuals due to the rapid expansion of ICE. He compared the hiring pace to the Border Patrol, which struggles to find even 1,000 people a year who meet their criteria. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has raised concerns about the doxxing of ICE agents, claiming attacks have skyrocketed by 830% since January, and has called on the Justice Department to prosecute anyone suspected of doxxing ICE agents by posting their photos and personal information online or in public.
Murphy emphasized that the use of masks could enable officers to commit acts of brutality without accountability. He warned that the increased number of agents, coupled with the anonymity provided by masks, could attract undesirable candidates, leading to dangerous conditions for misconduct. He also suggested that the high-profile raids by masked officers in places like California could be risky in a heavily armed country like the United States, where citizens may carry concealed weapons. However, he argued that this should not be a reason for not enforcing the law, as it could lead to shootouts and other dangerous situations.