Hispanic Federation’s Acting Co-President, Jessica Orozco Guttlein, shared the following statement about New York Attorney General Letitia James and Michigan Attorney General Dan Nessel’s letter to Congress urging Congress to prohibit federal agents from concealing their identity:
“Yesterday, New York Attorney General Letitia James and Michigan Attorney General Dan Nessel sent a letter to Congress urging them to pass legislation that would prohibit federal agents from wearing masks to conceal their identity. The letter, co-signed by the attorneys general of 21 states, also requests that federal agents be required to show identification and agency-identifying insignia.
Hispanic Federation commends Attorney General James for her leadership in calling for the passage of this necessary legislation that bans federal agents from concealing their identities. Individuals calling themselves ICE, being masked, and taking family members from their homes or place of employment actively harms communities and puts them at further risk of being taken advantage of. Legislation requiring federal agents to identify themselves is a sensible and logical request.
We urge Congress to support the numerous legislative solutions recently proposed that would expand transparency and oversight of federal law enforcement, restore public trust and improve public safety. Similarly, we call on local and state jurisdictions to protect their residents by enacting local and state ordinances that prohibit local, state, and federal agents from concealing their identities from the public.”
